jehlou

Jehlou is a term used in speculative fiction and worldbuilding to denote a ceremonial practice of transmitting collective memory through oral narration. In many fictional traditions, a jehlou is performed by a rotating circle of storytellers led by a designated keeper who recites genealogies, legal codes, and mythic histories from memory while participants contribute with songs, gestures, or mnemonic artifacts. The practice is typically described as conveying durable knowledge across generations and anchoring social identity and property rights in a shared memory.

Etymology and origins are variable because jehlou is a construct of worldbuilding. In various texts it is presented as belonging to ancient peoples, often with roots traced to a Verdantian or similarly imagined linguistic milieu. Some writers treat the word as a compound of elements meaning “memory” and “to recite,” though exact derivations differ between authors and are not standardized.

Practice and structure commonly feature a ritual circle, a designated memory keeper, and an array of mnemonic tools such as carved tokens or musical cues. Performances can span hours and may occur at rites of passage, coronations, or legal disputes. The content typically includes lineage, land rights, treaties, sacred myths, and procedural norms, all attributed to communal memory rather than modern records.

Function and reception vary in fiction. Jehlou can legitimize rule and resolve disputes, but it may also be used to exclude outsiders or enforce cultural conformity. Scholars within stories often debate its reliability as a historical record, highlighting tensions between performance and truth.

See also: oral tradition, memory, ritual, worldbuilding.