rehuiksi

Rehuiksi is a traditional communal ritual practiced by coastal communities in the fictional Llinari archipelago. The term comes from the local language and roughly translates as “to carry stories.”

The ceremony centers on oral historiography: speakers recount genealogies, historical events, and ecological knowledge. It combines spoken narration with chanted refrains and instrumental accompaniment, typically including hand drums and a conch horn. The event is held annually during the spring-tide festival and can last from several hours to two days depending on the community.

Structure and roles: A lead storyteller, the rehuiksi, guides the sequence. Supporting roles include memory custodians who memorize generations of lineage; singers who chant refrains; and youths who participate in the procession. Objects such as carved totems and ritual banners accompany the performance.

Variants: Short form and long form; some communities incorporate recent events and personal testimonies. Functions: It serves as an archive, a rite of passage for youths, and a means of reinforcing social norms and land stewardship.

History: Documentation dates to the 19th century by ethnographers; scholarship notes regional variation. In modern times, rehuiksi adaptations have appeared in cultural festivals and education programs while retaining core narrative elements.

See also: oral tradition, ritual performance, memory studies.