koertega

Koertega is a term used in speculative ethnography to describe a seasonal communal ritual practiced by the fictional Koerte people of the Lirra archipelago. The practice centers on oral storytelling, collective memory, and reciprocal provisioning, and it functions to reinforce kinship ties and coordinate resource sharing across villages. The word koertega combines elements from the Koerte language, with components meaning "to gather" and "memory," roughly translating as "memory gathering."

Traditionally held at the transition between harvest and the wet season, koertega begins at dusk with a circle of participants around a central fire. A designated storyteller, the kapo, recites genealogies, legends, and historical events, interwoven with songs performed on local percussion and string instruments. After the performance, participants reaffirm social obligations—shared meals, tool lending, and mutual defense—through a formal ritual exchange known as the circle pact.

Scholars within the fictional world trace koertega to an ancient rite said to be established by the goddess of memory. In contemporary portrayals, koertega is depicted as a flexible framework rather than a fixed set of rules, with variations in ceremony depending on village size and season.

See also: oral tradition, ritual, memory, reciprocal exchange.