Symbols of Talahara

Talahara has a rich symbological tradition, rooted primarily in the art of tapestry making practiced by both Kel Aman and Kel Hadar ethnic groups. These cultures developed a complex system, or language, of icons and sigils with socio-religious significance. These sigils are a uniquely Talaharan system, even within broader Kel cultures, and are chief among the most recognizable images associated with the country.

Socialist and more specifically syndicalist iconography has also had a major impact on modern symbolic representations of Talahara. The Black Banner, the national flag, is a simple black flag that represents unostentatious unity among the commoners. Cogwheels, farming implements, and other icons of labour and the working class are common symbols used in and associated with Talahara.

Tifinaɣ, the writing system for the Takelat languages of the Kel peoples, is also a recognizable symbol of Talaharan culture. The standard Talaharan alphabet contains 28 letters, with some variation from the alphabet used by the neighbouring Kel Tenere.

Flag

Talahara's flag is a simple black flag, alliteratively referred to as the "black banner" (in Tamaziɣt: tbanka taberkant; ⵟⴱⴰⵏⴽⴰ ⵟⴰⴱⵔⴽⴰⵏⵜ). The simple black banner was adopted by several anarchist factions during the Talaharan Civil War. Historically, Talaharan flags have consisted of single-colour blocks. The Third Talaharan Kingdom was generally represented by a crimson banner. The Republic of Talahara adopted a green flag. The anarchists favoured black as a common colour representative of the struggle of the working classes. After the war, several variants of the flag were used, including versions with sigils or other symbols centered on a black field. Ultimately, the plain black flag was adopted in official use by the government of the United Communes.

A flag with the lion's paw sigil in red centered on a black field is often used as a variant flag. At sea, the same flag is flown as a naval ensign, with the plain black flag the only authorized civil or merchant ensign. A third variant with red waves and a red anchor sigil in the canton on a black field is used as a naval jack.

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  National flag, civil and merchant ensign

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  Variant flag, naval ensign

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  Naval jack

Lion's paw sigil

The national emblem of Talahara is the lion's paw sigil: a symbol taken from Talahara's artisanal tradition of tapestry weaving. The lion's paw is a representation of Talahara, drawing from its etymological origin "font of lions", and from its meaning within the symbology of Talaharan tapestry as a sigil of strength and protection. Talaharan tapestries have traditionally been woven with sigils imbuing powers into the finished pieces. These powers are occasionally treated with superstitious reverence, but in the modern era are more commonly regarded as well-wishes. Tapestries with a lion's paw imbue divine protection into a home. Sigils of trees promise easy life and happiness, grains imbue fertility, and bees promote good work. The lion's paw has been associated as a symbol of Talahara since the 9th century CE, but was only officially adopted as a symbol in 1845.

They shall not pass!

They shall not pass! (Takelat: Adurzri!; ⴰⴷⵓⵔⵣⵔⵉ!) is the national anthem of Talahara. The song originated as a marching song for revolutionary socialists in the Talaharan Civil War. The song's lyrics were changed after the war's conclusion and it was subsequently adopted by the United Communes in the 1870s as national anthems grew in popularity across the world. The title and final line of the refrain "they shall not pass" is a reference to the Second Battle of Avana, the climax of the Talaharan Civil War, where anarchists stopped the republican army from relieving the garrison at Avana. This line was likely first introduced in the 1850s and the original wartime verse referred to feeding the poor and workers.

Original	Transliteration	Translation
ⵉⵜⴰⵍⴰⵀⴰⵔⵉⵙⵏ, ⵓⵔ ⵏⵇⵇⵉⵎ ⴰⵔⴰ ⴷ ⴰⴽⵍⴰⵏ! ⴹⴷⴰⵡ ⵏ ⵟⴱⴰⵏⴽⴰ ⵟⴰⴱⵔⴽⴰⵏⵜ, ⴰⴷ ⴷ-ⵏⵙⵙⵎⵍⵉⵍ, ⴹⴷⴰⵡ ⵉⴹⴰⵔⵔⵏ-ⵏⵏⵖ, ⴰⴷ ⵏⵔⵔⵥ ⵍⵇⵢⵓⴷ, ⴹⴷⴰⵡ ⵉⴹⴰⵔⵔⵏ-ⵏⵏⵖ, ⴰⴷ ⵏⵔⵔⵥ ⵍⵇⵢⵓⴷ, ⵉⵜⴰⵍⴰⵀⴰⵔⵉⵙⵏ ⵙⵙⴽⴽⵔ-ⴷ, ⴰⴷ ⵏⵡⵡⵜ ⵜⴰⵏⵄⵢⴰⵙⵜ ⵜⴰⵏⴳⴳⴰⵔⵓⵜ ⵡⵉⴷ-ⵏⵏⵉ, ⵙⴳ ⵍⴼⵕⵃ ⵏ ⵜⵎⵟⵟⵓⵜ, ⵙⵙⵅⵚⴰⵔⵏ ⵉⵥⵎ ⵏ ⵡⴰⵜⵎⴰⵜⵏ-ⵏⵏⵖ ⵉ ⵢⵎⵎⵓⵜⵏ ⵎⴱⵍⴰ ⵉⵙⵡⵉ. ⵛⵏⵓ ⵏ ⵜⵍⴻⵍⵍⵉ, ⵃⴰⵔⴱ ⵖⴼ ⵜⵖⵉⵡⴰⵏⵉⵏ, ⵟⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵜⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵎⴱⵍⴰ ⴰⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷ, ⴰⴷⵓⵔⵣⵔⵉ! ⵙⵉⵏ ⴰⵍⴼ ⵏ ⵢⵉⵙⴳⴳⴰⵙⵏ ⴰⵢⴰ ⵙⴳ ⵡⴰⵙⵎⵉ ⵉ ⵜⵟⵟⵙⴹ, ⵉⵜⴰⵍⴰⵀⴰⵔⵉⵙⵏ, ⵙⴽⵔ, ⴰⴽⵓⴷ ⵢⵜⵜⵄⴳⴳⵉⴹ ⴷⴳ ⵉⵎⵥⵥⵓⵖⵏ-ⵉⴽ, ⴰⴽⵓⴷ ⵢⵜⵜⵄⴳⴳⵉⴹ ⴷⴳ ⵉⵎⵥⵥⵓⵖⵏ-ⵉⴽ, ⴹ ⵍⵡⵇⵜ-ⵉⴽ ⵏ ⵍⵙⵍⴰⴽ, ⵉⵎⴷⴰⵏⴻⵏ, ⴽⴽⵔⵜ, ⴴⴴⵜ ⵔⵔⴱⵃ ⵜⵜⴰⵡⵉⵏ ⵉⵎⵊⴰⵀⴷⵏ-ⵉⴽ ⵢⵜⵜⵡⴰⵙⵏⴻⵏ ⵖⵔ ⵢⵉⵎⵏⵖⵉ, ⵡⵉⴷ ⵢⵜⵜⴰⴽⵏ ⵟⴰⵍⴰⵀⴰⵔⴰ ⵙ ⵍⴼⴰⵢⴷⴰⵜ-ⵉⵙ, ⴰⵢⵍⴰ-ⵙ ⴷ ⵛⵛⴰⵏ-ⵉⵙ. ⵛⵏⵓ ⵏ ⵜⵍⴻⵍⵍⵉ, ⵃⴰⵔⴱ ⵖⴼ ⵜⵖⵉⵡⴰⵏⵉⵏ, ⵟⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵜⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵎⴱⵍⴰ ⴰⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷ, ⴰⴷⵓⵔⵣⵔⵉ! ⵟⵡⴰⵍⴰⴹ-ⵜⵏ, ⴰⵍⴼ-ⴰⴳⵉ ⵏ ⵢⵉⵎⵏⵖⵉⵢⵏ ⵉⴱⵖⴰⵏ ⵟⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⵔ ⵍⴱⴷⴰ, ⴱⴰⴱ-ⵉⵙ ⵢⵣⵏⵓⵣⵓ ⵉⵇⴷⴷⴰⵛⵏ-ⵉⵙ, ⴱⴰⴱ-ⵉⵙ ⵢⵣⵏⵓⵣⵓ ⵉⵇⴷⴷⴰⵛⵏ-ⵉⵙ, ⵢⵔⵏⴰ ⵏⵛⵏⵏⵓ ⵖⴼ ⵜⵍⴻⵍⵍⵉ, ⵓⵔ ⵇⵇⵉⵎⵏ ⴰⵔⴰ ⵉⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷⵏ, ⵓⵔ ⵇⵇⵉⵎⵏ ⴰⵔⴰ ⵉⵎⴹⴱⴱⵔⵏ; ⵛⴰⴹⵏ ⵉⴷⴰⵎⵎⵏ, ⵛⴰⴹⵏ ⵍⵃⵣⵏ, ⴰⴷ ⵢⵉⵍⵉ ⵍⵇⴼⵏ ⴰⵙⵎⵎⴰⴹ ⵏ ⵜⵜⵓⵜ ⵣⵣⵉⴷ ⵍⵃⴽⵎⴰ ⴷ ⵍⵃⴱⵙ. ⵛⵏⵓ ⵏ ⵜⵍⴻⵍⵍⵉ, ⵃⴰⵔⴱ ⵖⴼ ⵜⵖⵉⵡⴰⵏⵉⵏ, ⵟⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵜⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵎⴱⵍⴰ ⴰⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷ, ⴰⴷⵓⵔⵣⵔⵉ! ⵓⵍⴰⵛ ⵉⵎⵟⵟⴰⵡⵏ ⴷⴳ ⵜⵓⴷⴷⴰⵔ ⵎⵉ ⴰⵔⴰ ⵢⴼⴼⵖ ⵓⵎⴷⴰⵏ-ⵏⵏⵉ ⵢⵜⵜⵡⴰⵙⴱⴷⴷⵏ ⵙⴳ ⵡⵅⵅⴰⵎ; ⴰⵏⴼ, ⴰⵏⴼ ⵜⵉⵡⴰⵛⵓⵍⵉⵏ ⵜⵉⴳⵍⵍⵉⵍⵉⵏ ⴰⵏⴼ, ⴰⵏⴼ ⵜⵉⵡⴰⵛⵓⵍⵉⵏ ⵜⵉⴳⵍⵍⵉⵍⵉⵏ ⵟⵟⴼⵏ ⵖⵔ ⵜⴰⵎⴰ ⵏ ⵡⴰⵔⵔⴰⵡ-ⵏⵙⵏ ⴰⵙⵏⵔⵏⵉ! ⴰⴷ ⵢⵉⵍⵉ ⴷ ⵜⴰⴼⴰⵜ-ⵉⴽ ⵉⵛⴱⵃⵏ ⴹⵍⵓ-ⴷ ⵖⴼ ⵡⴰⵔⵔⴰⵡ-ⵏⵏⵖ ⴰⴽⴽ, ⴰⴽⴽⵏ ⵉⵎⴷⴰⵏⴻⵏ ⴰⴷ ⵉⵍⵉⵏ ⴷ ⵉⵍⴻⵍⵍⵉⵢⵏ ⴷⴳ ⵢⵉⴳⵔⴰⵏ-ⵏⵙⵏ, ⵉ ⵡⴰⴽⴽⵏ ⵜⴰⵅⵔⵉⴹⵜ ⵓⵔ ⵜⵇⵇⵉⵎ ⴰⵔⴰ ⴷ ⴰⵄⵡⵡⵉⵇ. ⵛⵏⵓ ⵏ ⵜⵍⴻⵍⵍⵉ, ⵃⴰⵔⴱ ⵖⴼ ⵜⵖⵉⵡⴰⵏⵉⵏ, ⵟⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵜⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵎⴱⵍⴰ ⴰⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷ, ⴰⴷⵓⵔⵣⵔⵉ! ⵓⵔ ⵜⵄⴳⴳⵉⴹⵜ ⴰⵔⴰ ⵍⵇⵡⴰⵏⴻⵏ-ⵏⵡⵏ ⵉⵎⴰⵢⵏⵓⵜⵏ; ⵉⵎⴷⴰⵏⴻⵏ-ⵏⵏⵉ ⴷ ⵉⵎⵙⵍⵉⵢⵏ ⵉ ⵡⴰⵡⴰⵍⵏ-ⵉⴽ, ⵛⴰⴹ ⵏ ⵜⴼⵢⴰⵔ ⵜⵉⵃⵔⵛⵉⵢⵉⵏ, ⵛⴰⴹ ⵏ ⵜⴼⵢⴰⵔ ⵜⵉⵃⵔⵛⵉⵢⵉⵏ, ⵛⴰⴼ ⵡⴰⵡⴰⵍⵏ ⵉⵍⵎ, ⵉⵜⴰⵍⴰⵀⴰⵔⵉⵙⵏ, ⵔⵔⴱⵃ ⵉⵛⴱⵃⵏ, ⴷ ⵔⵔⴱⵃ ⵏ ⵢⵉⵣⵔⴼⴰⵏ-ⵉⴽ, ⵡⵉⴳⵉ ⴷ ⵉⴳⵎⵎⴰⴹ-ⵉⴽ ⵉⵎⵇⵇⵔⴰⵏⴻⵏ. ⴰⴷ ⵢⵜⵜⵡⴰⵙⴽⵍⵙ ⴷⴳ ⵓⵎⵣⵔⵓⵢ. ⵛⵏⵓ ⵏ ⵜⵍⴻⵍⵍⵉ, ⵃⴰⵔⴱ ⵖⴼ ⵜⵖⵉⵡⴰⵏⵉⵏ, ⵟⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵜⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵎⴱⵍⴰ ⴰⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷ, ⴰⴷⵓⵔⵣⵔⵉ! ⵉⵎⴷⴰⵏⴻⵏ ⵣⵎⵔⵏ ⴰⴷ ⵉⵍⵉⵏ ⴷ ⵉⵎⴹⴱⴱⵔ-ⵉⴽ. ⴰⴷ ⵜⵉⵍⵉ ⵜⵖⴷⵎⵜ ⴷ ⵉⵚⵓⴹⴰⴼ-ⵉⴽ, ⴰⴷ ⵓⵔ ⵢⵜⵜⵄⵟⵟⵉⵍ ⴰⵔⴰ ⴰⴷ ⵢⵍⵍⵓⵥ ⵓⵅⴷⴷⴰⵎ ⴰⴷ ⵓⵔ ⵢⵜⵜⵄⵟⵟⵉⵍ ⴰⵔⴰ ⴰⴷ ⵢⵍⵍⵓⵥ ⵓⵅⴷⴷⴰⵎ ⵙⴳ ⵉⴽⵔⵙⵉⵢⵏ ⵉⵖⴼ ⵇⵇⵉⵎⵏ ⵉⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷⵏ-ⵏⵏⵖ. ⵙⴳ ⵜⵙⵡⵉⵄⵜ ⵜⴰⵣⴳⵣⴰⵡⵜ ⵏ ⵢⵉⴹ ⴰⵏⴷⴰ ⵜⴳⵍⴷⴰ ⵜⵛⵓⴷⴷ ⵙ ⵙⵏⴰⵙⵍ, ⴰⴷ ⵜⴰⴼⴰⵙⵜ ⵏ ⵜⵍⴻⵍⵍⵉ ⴽⴽⵔ ⴰⴷ ⵜⵛⵄⵛⵄ ⴷⴳ ⵓⵎⴰⴹⴰⵍ! ⵛⵏⵓ ⵏ ⵜⵍⴻⵍⵍⵉ, ⵃⴰⵔⴱ ⵖⴼ ⵜⵖⵉⵡⴰⵏⵉⵏ, ⵟⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵜⵉⴽⵍⵉ ⵖⴼ, ⵎⴱⵍⴰ ⴰⴳⵍⵍⵉⴷ, ⴰⴷⵓⵔⵣⵔⵉ!	Italaharisen, ur neqqim ara d aklan! Ddaw n tbanka taberkant, ad d-nessemlil, Ddaw iḍarren-nneɣ, ad nerreẓ leqyud, Ddaw iḍarren-nneɣ, ad nerreẓ leqyud, Italaharisen ssekker-d, Ad newwet taneɛyast taneggarut Wid-nni, seg lfeṛḥ n tmeṭṭut, Ssexṣaren iẓem N watmaten-nneɣ i yemmuten mebla iswi. Cnu n tlelli, Ḥareb ɣef tɣiwanin, Tikli ɣef, tikli ɣef, mebla agellid, Adurzri! Sin alef n yiseggasen aya seg wasmi i teṭṭseḍ, Italaharisen, sker, Akud yettɛeggiḍ deg imeẓẓuɣen-ik, Akud yettɛeggiḍ deg imeẓẓuɣen-ik, D lweqt-ik n leslak, Imdanen, kkert, eǧǧet rrbeḥ ttawin Imjahden-ik yettwasnen ɣer yimenɣi, Wid yettaken Talahara s lfaydat-is, Ayla-s d ccan-is. Cnu n tlelli, Ḥareb ɣef tɣiwanin, Tikli ɣef, tikli ɣef, mebla agellid, Adurzri! Twalaḍ-ten, alef-agi n yimenɣiyen ibɣan Tikli ɣer lebda, Bab-is yeznuzu iqeddacen-is, Bab-is yeznuzu iqeddacen-is, Yerna ncennu ɣef tlelli, Ur qqimen ara igelliden, ur qqimen ara imḍebbren; Caḍen idammen, caḍen leḥzen, Ad yili lqefn asemmaḍ n ttut Ḍlu lḥekma d lḥebs. Cnu n tlelli, Ḥareb ɣef tɣiwanin, Tikli ɣef, tikli ɣef, mebla agellid, Adurzri! Ulac imeṭṭawen deg tuddar Mi ara yeffeɣ umdan-nni yettwasbedden seg wexxam; Anef, anef tiwaculin tigellilin Anef, anef tiwaculin tigellilin Ṭṭfen ɣer tama n warraw-nsen Asnerni! Ad yili d tafat-ik icebḥen Ḍlu-d ɣef warraw-nneɣ akk, Akken imdanen ad ilin d ilelliyen deg yigran-nsen, I wakken taxriḍt ur teqqim ara d aɛewwiq. Cnu n tlelli, Ḥareb ɣef tɣiwanin, Tikli ɣef, tikli ɣef, mebla agellid, Adurzri! Ur ţɛeggiḍet ara leqwanen-nwen imaynuten; Imdanen-nni d imesliyen i wawalen-ik, Caḍ n tefyar tiḥerciyin, Caḍ n tefyar tiḥerciyin, Caf wawalen ilem, Italaharisen, rrbeḥ icebḥen, D rrbeḥ n yizerfan-ik, Wigi d igemmaḍ-ik imeqqranen. Ad yettwasekles deg umezruy. Cnu n tlelli, Ḥareb ɣef tɣiwanin, Tikli ɣef, tikli ɣef, mebla agellid, Adurzri! Imdanen zemren ad ilin d imḍebber-ik. Ad tili teɣdemt d iṣuḍaf-ik, Ad ur yettɛeṭṭil ara ad yelluẓ uxeddam Ad ur yettɛeṭṭil ara ad yelluẓ uxeddam Seg ikersiyen iɣef qqimen igelliden-nneɣ. Seg teswiɛt tazegzawt n yiḍ Anda tgelda tcudd s snasel, Ad tafast n tlelli Kker ad tceɛceɛ deg umaḍal! Cnu n tlelli, Ḥareb ɣef tɣiwanin, Tikli ɣef, tikli ɣef, mebla agellid, Adurzri!	Talaharans, let us no longer be slaves! Under the Black Banner, let us rally, Under our feet, let us break the shackles, Under our feet, let us break the shackles, Talaharans wake up, Let us strike the last curse Those who, out of foolish pride, Have disrupted the ashes Of our brothers who died without purpose. Sing of freedom, Defend the communes, March on, march on, without a king, They shall not pass! For two-thousand years you have slept, Talaharans, wake up, The time is ringing in your ears, The time is ringing in your ears, It's your time of salvation, People, arise, let victory lead Your proud warriors to combat, Who give Talahara its achievements, Its wealth and its glory. Sing of freedom, Defend the communes, March on, march on, without a king, They shall not pass! Do you see them, these thousand brave warriors Walking to immortality, The master sold his slaves, The master sold his slaves, And we sing of freedom, No more kings, no more masters, Enough blood, enough mourning, May the cold shroud of forgetfulness Envelop thrones and shackles. Sing of freedom, Defend the communes, March on, march on, without a king, They shall not pass! No more tears in the villages When the conscript leaves home; Let, let the poor families Let, let the poor families Kneel by their children Progress! May your bright light Descend on all our children, So that people are free in their fields, So that the tax is no longer a barrier. Sing of freedom, Defend the communes, March on, march on, without a king, They shall not pass! Do not exalt your new laws, Those people are deaf to your words, Enough of solemn phrases, Enough of solemn phrases, Enough empty words, Talaharans, the most beautiful victory, Is the victory of your rights, These are your greatest achievements That will be recorded in history. Sing of freedom, Defend the communes, March on, march on, without a king, They shall not pass! People may honor be your guide, May justice be your laws, May the worker no longer be hungry May the worker no longer be hungry From the thrones on which sat our kings. From the darkest hour of the night Where royalty is chained, May the torch of liberty Rise and shine on the world! Sing of freedom, Defend the communes, March on, march on, without a king, They shall not pass!