Mabifia

Republic of Mabifia Official names Gaullican: République de Mabifie Kirobyi: Repubilika y'u Mabifïa Ekole:   Republika yo Mabifïa Kihoungana: Repubulika ya Mabifïa
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Unité, Paix, Foi" "Unity, Peace, Faith"
Mabifia (dark green) within the Congress of Bahian States (light green).
Capital and largest city	Ouagedji
Official languages	Gaullican
Recognised national languages	Ekole Kirobyi Kihoungana
Demonym(s)	Mabifian
Government	Federal presidential republic
• President	Mahmadou Jolleh Bande
• Premier	Jean Tshibamba
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	National Assembly
Establishment
• Independence from Estmere	1942
Population
• 2018 census	87,982,681
GDP (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	$442.8 billion
• Per capita	$5,033
GDP (nominal)	2023 estimate
• Total	$133.5 billion
• Per capita	$1,517
HDI (2023)	0.535 low
Currency	Mabifian Ceeci (MBC)
Driving side	right
Internet TLD	.mb

The Republic of Mabifia (Gaullican: République de Mabifie), most commonly referred to as Mabifia, is a sovereign state in southern and western Bahia. It borders Dezevau to the south, Zorasan to the west, Behera and Yemet to the north, and Rwizikuru to the east. It has a population of nearly 88 million, over 12 million of whom live in the capital of Ouagedji. It is divided into twenty-one departments, which are futher divided into communes.

Etymology

Mabifia derives from Ndjarendie maw bifi, literally 'great harmattan', in reference to the dusty winds typical of the country's arid north.

History

From the 9th century CE, northern Mabifia was dominated by Irfanic Razzia states that began with the Founagé Dominion of Heaven and reached their cultural height under the successive houragic rulers of Kambou, while the southern coast was under the influence of Dezevauni cities and traders. Kambou became a powerful rival of the Rwizi Empire in the Djaladjie, and a center of the Bahian Golden Age (such as scholarship in the Lourale ka Maoube), while from the 16th century southern Mabifia became the hinterland of the Agudan province of Dovoba.

Following the Zombibudi Wars in the 18th century, Agudan control lapsed, and southern Mabifian society became dominated by a movement known as Tabera, while after 1760 Kambou's conquests made it hegemon over a territory conterminous with much of modern Mabifia. After years of Euclean encroachment part of the Toubacterie, in 1811–1813 Kambou dramatically fell to Gaullican colonialism in the Kambou Expedition, part of the wider Fatougole. Notwithstanding anti-colonial revolts such as the Sougoulie, Gaullica controlled Mabifia until the end of the Great War in 1935, upon which it became a mandate of Estmere before being granted independence in 1942.

The First Mabifian Civil War in 1948 resulted in the establishment of the Mabifian Democratic Republic, a socialist state ruled by the Mabifian Section of the Workers' International. The MDR was a part of the short-lived United Bahian Republic; after the UBR's collapse it fought the Mabifian-Rwizikuran War against Rwizikuru. Growing opposition to the socialist regime sparked the Second Mabifian Civil War from 1972 to 1978; although a nominal transition to democracy was made, the present Republic of Mabifia is dominated by the authoritarian rule of president Mahmadou Jolleh Bande and the Bahian Renaissance Party.

Politics and Government

President Mahmadou Jolleh Bande

Premier Jean Tshibamba

Mabifia is a federal presidential republic, where a President serves as head of state. The current President is Mahmadou Jolleh Bande, who was first elected to the position in 1997 and has since won re-election in 2004, 2011 and 2018. The powers of the President are delimited by the constitution and are expansive. The President is able to create policy, is in charge of the appointment of government officials including the Premier, represents the country overseas, and is the head of the Mabifian Armed Forces. The person of the President is protected, with insulting the president illegal.

The legislative branch is represented by the Parliament, a bicameral legislative assembly composed of the 56 member Senate and 350 member National Assembly. The Senate serves as an upper house and is composed of two representatives from each Department. The National Assembly is comprised of elected officials, who are elected using a first past the post system. To be accepted, a bill must be passed by both houses. The judiciary branch is represented by civil and religious courts. These are theoretically independent, but due to corruption and the unofficial influence of traditional elders over their decisions they are widely seen as being instruments of the government.

Mabifia is legally an open multi-party democracy which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press. While multiple parties do exist and contest elections, the electoral process is widely deemed to be flawed. This is due to widespread corruption, vote fixing, intimidation of political opponents and even politically motivated killings and violence against journalists. These problems are prevalent rural areas, with the democratic process in many urbanised departments being far more open and reliable.

Military

Mabifian soldiers manning a technical in Koupanni, 2013.

The Mabifian Armed Forces constitute the military of Mabifia. It consists of the Mabifian National Army, the Mabifian National Air Force, Mabifian National Navy, and several paramilitary groups such as the Sans-Éclipses. With a total of 490,702 members counting active, reserve and paramilitary personel, Mabifia's armed forces are the largest in Bahia. Despite their size, their equipment is highly outdated and reliant on surplus weaponry from other nations. The armed forces are also weakened by corruption and nepotism, with promotions often made on the basis of ethnic or geographic background and loyalty as opposed to performance.

The head of the Mabifian National Armed Forces is the President, but this position is purely ceremonial. In practical terms, the Armed Forces are commanded by the Combined General Staff of Mabifia. This is a council of the highest ranking officers in Mabifia, including the heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force. There is no conscription in Mabifia, service is voluntary. The Mabifian National Armed Forces have seen service within the Makanian Conflict, and are accused of war crimes in this conflict.

Foreign relations

Since the fall of socialism at the end of the Second Mabifian Civil War, Mabifia has pursued a balanced foreign policy. Mabifia is an active supporter of multilateralism and heavily involved in solidarity movements in the developing world. It was a founding member of the Congress of Bahian States and actively participates in all of the organisation's projects, with Pan-Bahianist goals being a major part of its relations with its neighbours. Mabifia has repeatedly stated its interest in the creation of a Bahian customs union and common market, though it does not support political unification. It is also a member of the International Forum for Developing States, the Community of Nations and the International Trade Organisation.

In terms of bilateral relations, Mabifia has close ties with its former colonial power Gaullica thanks to foreign aid projects and support during the civil war. These ties are strained by authoritarian trends within the Mabifian government. In recent years, Mabifia has reached out to the Union of Zorasani Irfanic Republics and Xiaodong for economic support as Euclean support has diminished, but has not joined the Rongzhuo Strategic Protocol Organisation and still maintains relations with COMSED nations such as Senria. Relations with Rwizikuru have been historically tense due to border disagreements following the Mabifian-Rwizikuran War, but these have warmed in recent years following Rwizikuru's dropping of claims on Yekumavirira and the reopening of borders.

Economy

An oil refinery in Makania, the centre of the Mabifian petroleum industry.

Before gaining independence in 1942 Mabifia was a key producer of gold and cash crops such as sugar and cocoa which were exported to Euclean markets, predominantly mainland Gaullica. These industries were owned by Gaullican landowners, who fled the country in the civil war which followed independence and the announced nationalisation of all economic means of production by the Popular Liberation Movement government which took over. Mismanagement crippled the Mabifian economy and output only recovered to pre-independence levels in 1950, with assistance from Valduvian economic advisors. The Mabifian-Rwizikuran War and Second Mabifian Civil War caused significant damage to capital and infrastructure, which Mabifia has still not fully recovered from in some areas.

A Bahoungana subsistence farmer in southern Bouïzou

The petrochemical industry is the largest-earning and most developed economic sector in Mabifia, thanks to copious petroleum reserves within the region of Makania. This petrol is a source of conflict in the region. Crude petroleum accounts for roughly 50% of state revenues, and Mabifia is the largest producer and exporter of oil in Bahia. Oil is transferred by pipeline to the Banfuran coast, from where it is exported to overseas markets. Other important sectors include gold and other precious minerals, and crops such as cocoa, sugar and coffee. Subsistence farming is widespread and emplys the largest number of workers of any economic activity. Mabifia maintains close economic ties with its neighbours as part of the Congress of Bahian States.

The main issues that face the Mabifian economy stem from its political situation. A major problem is corruption, which is ever-present at almost every level of Mabifian society, mainly in the form of crony capitalism based on complex networks of patronage. Another issue is internal instability, as violence in Makania threatens oil production and other economic activities there.

Transport

Rail transport in Mabifia is highly limited. The country has two railway lines, the Adunis to Mambiza Railway and a connection between this line and Ouagedji. The country's rail infrastructure is largely based upon colonial construction, with some refurbishments after damage done during the civil war. There are plans to construct more railway lines in conjunction with neighbouring states, however, these plans are fraught due to the high costs of construction which are not affordable for the state. Construction of a Banfuran Coast Railway was started in 2014, but due to embezzlement of funds by project managers the project has stagnated.

Marché Centrale of Ouagedji's large mabaranou park.

The Mabifian road network suffers from many of the same problems as the rail network. Aside from a network of toll roads constructed with the help of Gaullica which connects major cities and the roads that service the Zorasani border, roads in Mabifia are of a generally low quality. Only 10% of the total road surface is tarred, leading to issues particularly in the wet season when roads can be washed away. Banditry is a major problem in northern rural areas, particularly in Makania, while police roadblocks often serve as collection points for bribes and do not help with security. Intercity bus companies connect all major cities, but the most widespread method of long-distance travel is the Mabaranou. These are privately owned minibuses which run itinerant journeys between different cities.

The domestic aviation market in Mabifia is almost nonexistent, with limited amounts of charter flights linking the larger cities. These primarily serve foreign tourist groups who wish to avoid the dangers of overland travel, and are highly irregular. The sole airline company based in Mabifia is Mabifian Airways, which serves as the flag carrier. There are flights between Ouagedji and other major Bahian and Coian airports, as well as connections with Verlois. Ouagedji is the largest port in Mabifia, handling 56% of the nations exports.

Demographics

A population pyramid of Mabifia's population.

Mabifia has a population of 87,982,681, making it the second largest nation by population in Bahia behind neighbouring Yemet. Its population density is 61.78 people per square kilometre, but due to the geographic nature of Mabifia which is covered with vast savanna plains in regions such as the Boual ka Bifie this figure is not reflective of the highly dense urban areas nor the sparsely-populated rural interior. Around 50% of the nation's population is urbanised, though this number is an estimate due to the unreliability of Mabifian census data. The urban population has fallen since the Second Mabifian Civil War, which led many people to leave the urban centres as the availability of jobs fell due to post-Socialist marketisation which damaged many uncompetitive Mabifian industries.

The average life expectancy in Mabifia is 54.2 years for males and 55.6 for females, some of the lowest in Kylaris. This is a result of poor healthcare, poverty, food shortages and other adverse conditions within the country. Mabifia has a high fertility rate, at 4.65 births per mother. This is a result of a strong degree of religiousity, but also represents the very low rate of female participation in the workforce and education which has come about due to religious backlash against the Mabifian Democratic Republic's policies. The infant mortality rate is 46 deaths per 1000 births, which is also high. These factors have meant that Mabifia has recorded a high population growth of 2.6%. This combination of high birth rate and low life expectancy has meant that Mabifia has a highly youthful popuation. This leads to a high rate of dependancy, and has created pressures due to a growing need for employment. The birth rate is higher in rural areas than in the cities, however, there is consistent flight of young people from the rural areas to cities in search of jobs which has meant that cities, particularly the capital city, are growing at an exponential rate.

Mabifia faces several key demographic pressures. Its population is growing rapidly, especially in urban areas, which is placing increased pressure on municipal authorities to provide essential services. Food and water insecurity are common, a situation worsened by increasing desertification due to climate change. The growth of urban areas has also led to the growth of slums in major cities, areas where poverty is rife and living conditions especially difficult. These demographic pressures have helped to fuel the Herder-farmer conflicts in the Boual ka Bifie and Mabifian food crisis.

Ethnic groups

Cattle farmers in the Boual ka Bifie region.

Population by ethnicity (2020)

  Ouloume (58%)

  Boualic (19%)

  Machaï (9%)

  Ziba (7%)

  Rahelic (2%)

  Other (5%)

Mabifia is an ethnically diverse nation, with hundreds of different ethnic groups each possessing their own rich cultural heritage and traditions. There is no majority ethnic group; the largest ethnic division are the Ouloume peoples, who form roughly 58% of the population of Mabifia, making up the majority of the population in the densely populated southeast. They are divided into a highly diverse range of groups: the largest Ouloumic groups are the Ekole (20%), the Barobyi (18%), and the Bahoungana (12%). Other notable groups in the south include Ziba, who make up 7% of the total population.

Northern Mabifia's population is dominated by the 'Boualic' peoples, encompassing the Ndjarendie (8%), historically the founder of great states such as the Founagé Dominion of Heaven and the Kambou Empire, and whose tongue serves something of a common, classical language in pan-Mabifian culture; the Mangi (2%); the Doudagi (2%); the Sewa (3%); the Bélé peoples (4%), in turn including Saban, Anana and several other groups, who have had an important influence on Mabifia through the adoption of the kora, the traditional instrument of the Djelis. There are also Machaï peoples of Makania, dominated by the Mirites (7%); and the Mourâhiline (2%).

Education

The University of Kambou, one of the world's oldest tertiary institutions.

The education system in Mabifia is managed by the Department of Education, which is responsible for the overall administration of education and the setting of loose national educational standards. Departments are empowered to organise their own systems, though with the oversight of the national-level department. Though education is legally mandatory for all children from the age of five until the age of 11, this is not strictly enforced in rural areas where cultural roles for children supercede their educational pathways. State schooling in Mabifia is divided into different pathways. While all students within the public educational system must complete Primary school (enseignement primaire), after one completes this first step the system divides into three types of school: Collège which provides a purely academic route allowing for deeper academic study aimed at entry into university, École de culture générale which is less academically demanding and focuses more on entry into commerce and other such professions, and École de formation professionnelle which permits the students to obtain work experience in an apprenticeship. Students are able to choose between these three pathways, though higher grades are required to enter the collegial system. Mabifia also recognises religious and customary education as a valid educational pathway, and homeschooling is legal and widely practiced especially in disadvantaged rural areas or in communities which are more attached to traditional lifestyles. All public education is conducted in Gaullican, which is the nation's official language, though religious and customary education is permitted in local languages.

Students at a primary school in rural Mabifia.

Mabifia has a long heritage of education, with the city of Kambou being a historical center of philosophy and scientific research. Figures such as Theodoros of Igitare and Attiyah al-Judami originated in or spent significant time in the country, with both figures being important parts of the Lourale ka Maoube or "Bahian Enlightenment". The University of Kambou was founded during this period with royal patronage and was for a time one of the leading educational institutes in the world. During Toubacterie the importance of Bahia's indigenous educational tradition was undermined and many traditional libraries were raided or destroyed. The Gaullicans instituted a system of Euclean education, which was limited to the children of compliant chiefs and Mirites, but permitted the bulk of the population to educate themselves as they believed this would marginalise the population. This localised elite eventually would grow sympathetic to independence, large numbers studying abroad in Verlois and other Euclean cities where they encountered socialism and other ideologies. The Mabifian Democratic Republic largely expanded the existing educational system, seeing it as a tool to modernise the population and erase superstitions. Illiteracy fell in this period, but the compulsory education created divides in communities.

There are many struggles faced in education in Mabifia. Despite efforts during the Mabifian Democratic Reoublic and under modern regimes, the damage done to educational institutions during the Second Mabifian Civil War and ongoing conflicts such as the Herder-farmer conflicts in the Boual ka Bifie and Makanian Conflict has left many young people without any education. Illiteracy is prevalent, with around 35% of the population illiterate. This rate is higher for women than men, and in some rural areas the majority of people are illiterate. Education is consistently underfunded in the Mabifian budget, and rural schools especially lack key infrastructure and trained teachers. Education is one of the sectors of Mabifian society most dependent on foreign aid, with Caldia in particular a significant funder.

Religion

Religion in Mabifia
Irfan			28%
Badi			25%
Catholic			25%
Mirite			8.7%
Traditional or other			5.7%

Mabifia is religiously diverse nation divided primarily between Irfan (28%), Badi (25%), or Sotirianity (35%); there is also extensive practice of traditional Bahian fetishism that often overlaps with these more organized religions. Religious relations are generally harmonious with the exception of Irfanist radicalism and ethnoreligious conflicts in the volatile northwest.

The Grand Beytol of Kambou, one of the most important Irfanic sites in Bahia.

The Irfanic population are primarily followers of the Laoulïabe sect. Laoulïabe Irfan is related to the traditional Asha school, which it emerged from, but its separation from the traditional Irfanic heartland in Zorasan and influence of local traditions resulted in several theological differences. There are also significant numbers of practitioners of traditional Irfan, and several revivalist groups have a presence in the country. Despite Orthodox Sotirianity's historical roots in the region, the majority of the Sotirians in Mabifia follow Solarian Catholicism which was introduced during the colonial period. In recent years several Amendist groups have started missionary work, however these groups have limited reach.

A number of new-age religious movements such as Dewal or Sapientianism have a presence in the wealthier parts of Mabifia; they are often practiced alongside the larger and older religions, though not without condemnation.

Culture

Music

Djelis playing the Kora, from an 1873 Gaullican photograph.

Mabifia has a rich tradition of musical expression, dating back to its early history. This historical richness and breadth of artistic styles has resulted in Mabifian music being extremely diverse and varied. The most typical musical style associated with Mabifia is that of the Djeli, a caste of artesan-slaves under Hourege who operated in a similar manner to the bards of medieval Euclea. Djeli music was often instrumental, a genre known as Gallol, or lyrical, called Gimol. Gimol songs usually followed poetic structures and dealt with themes such as love (Gimol-giggol) or praise upon heroic figures or religious saints (Gimol-yetoode), and would sometimes accompany Irfanic group meditation sessions. The Djeli were highly respected across Bahia, despite their slave status, as it was through these songs that much of Bahia's early oral history was transmitted. The Djeli traditionally used instruments such as the kora, bongo drums, balafon and other such instruments.

Under Toubacterie, the Djeli were officially granted manumission, but found less audience for their talents as the Eucleans preferred their own musical traditions. Whilst some anthropologists and historians did seek to obtain information from them in order to preserve it for posteriority, it is believed that much cultural knowledge was lost in this period. There were some efforts to bring orchestral music to Mabifia, and this attained some success among the native middle class and métis populations, but these styles were unable to gain widespread acceptance due to the intricacy of orchestral preparations and formalised musical notation which ran counter to the musical traditions of Mabifia. It is believed that the descendents of Mabifian Djeli shipped to the Asterias as part of the Transvehemens slave trade were responsable for the development of genres such as Jazz there, as it shares some similarities with the traditional Bahian styles of music.

Honorine Uwineza, possibly the most influential Mabifian singer despite her young death.

The Mabifian Democratic Republic was repressive of music which was seen to condemn the regime, as well as traditional musical styles as their often religious and mythical themes were seen to be remnants of non-socialist culture. This artistic repression, combined with the policy of Pierre-Julien Onziema's villes nouvelles which created a melting pot of different cultural backgrounds within small industrial towns, laid the scene for the emergence of Djeli pop as a musical genre. Djeli pop, which carved out a unique niche in the musical world with its incorporation of both traditional Djeli instruments and modern instruments such as the electric guitar and charged political lyrics, would go on to become one of Mabifia's most influential cultural exports. Artists such as Honorine Uwineza became household names both in Mabifia and abroad, with the genre going on to influence music across Bahia. While Djeli pop was restricted in Mabifia and Uwineza herself was killed due to her political activism, it would go on to serve as a basis for much of Mabifia's later music.

In the modern period, traditional Djeli pop has been replaced in many areas by newer genres which built off of Djeli pop's success. Modern Mabifian music often makes heavier use of electronic technology, though traditional rythyms are still a key part of the musical scene. Genres such as rap and electronic dance music have grown in popularity, with Drum and Bass music especially gaining a widespread audience in urban areas. Artists such as the Mabifian-Gaullican singer Djeïne combine multiple styles in their music, often singing in Gaullican as opposed to traditional tribal languages in order to expand their audience. Religious music is also highly popular, with a number of radio stations playing only gospel or Irfanic Gata.

Cuisine

A street vendor selling fried meats and yam in Kangesare.

Mabifian cuisine is highly varied depending on the geographic region, as the availability of foodstuffs can differ wildly. Mabifians commonly eat two meals a day, a small breakfast before sunrise and a large meal in the evening after sunset. This is due in part to religious practicality, following the sunrise and sunset, but also due to the need to work during the daylight hours as much of the workforce works in subsistence agriculture which is done primarily by hand. A typical meal consists of foufou, a doughlike substance made by grinding cocoyam, manioc, plantain and other fibrous foodstuffs such as flour with water, and soups made with groundnut, vegetables and palm oil. Meat and fish are rarer but still play an important role in Mabifian cuisine. A common snack is Boucougo, which are roasted at the side of the road and sold in a cornet of newspaper.

Cutlery is not widely used, especially in rural areas. Instead, Mabifians eat using foufou or with flatbreads. The right hand is customarily prefered. Snacking is widespread during the day, with streetside vendors selling brochettes and fried dough for very low prices. The widespread practice of Irfan has resulted in a very low consumption of alcoholic beverages, with drinks such as hibiscus tea being preferred instead. Despite this, palm wine and other homemade alcoholic beverages are common in the Ouloume majority coastal areas where Irfan is less dominant.

Sports

Lutteurs participating in a match of Inchema in Kangesare.

Sporting passtimes have been widely practiced for centuries in Mabifia. The earliest sports to be practiced are believed to have been equestrian in nature, such as horse racing which has been practiced by the nomadic inhabitants of the Boual for centuries. Another sport which has a long history is wrestling, which has been practiced in many forms across different ethnic groups in the country. The most notable form of Mabifian folk wrestling is that of Inchema, endemic to the Barobyi of southern Mabifia, which is still highly popular in the modern era. As with equestrian sports, these passtimes originated as means of preparing young men for combat and instilling moral values within them.

The most popular sport in Mabifia is football, which was introduced to the country by Gaullican settlers during the period of Toubacterie. While originally played solely by the white elite, the sport swiftly caught on due to its basic simplicity and low cost required to play. The Mabifian Democratic Republic was a major supporter of sports in the country, seeing them as a way of showing the promise of socialism to the world. Mabifia competed at the Games of the Red Star, achieving some significant successes. Another sport which was popularised in this time was Chess. While forms of the game had been played in Mabifia since the arrival of Irfan in the country, the Euclean standard format was introduced and widely played. Mabifia has produced a number of successful grand masters, including Massaba Mbacké who is one of the world's strongest players. Inchema, which was reformed during colonial times to remove its mystical aspects, is very popular and a national league exists. Sports such as rugby and cricket are also widely played.