kerrontaa

Kerrontaa is a traditional communal storytelling and memory-preservation practice of the fictional Kheron people in the montane Varu region. It functions as a living archive for genealogies, laws, treaties, and moral tales. Performed during the midwinter festival and on major life events, participants gather in a circle around a drum and memory cloths, and recitations are led by a trained storyteller.

The name Kerrontaa derives from kerr- meaning "remember" and -ontaa meaning "song" or "path," reflecting its dual function as memory and narrative route. The term has long designated the practice for generations and is used to refer both to the event itself and to the body of stories told within it.

A memory keeper known as the Kerrontaar leads the performance, aided by memory runners who offer fragments to jog recollections. The event blends oral narration, chants, and mnemonic devices, with props such as carved bone tablets and a tapestry illustrating ancestral lineages. The structure emphasizes sequence, repetition, and collective participation to ensure accuracy across generations.

Socially, Kerrontaa reinforces bonds, codifies customary norms, and can shape dispute resolution through narrative precedent. It also serves as a vehicle for teaching ethics, responsibilities, and communal obligations, transmitting authority and cultural values from elders to younger participants.

Today, Kerrontaa is studied by anthropologists as a robust example of an oral tradition. While some communities maintain formal archives and workshops, others face decline due to migration and language loss. Preservation efforts include audio documentation, intergenerational teaching, and integration into regional cultural programs.