Mava

Republic of Mava Naigál'yaké 'a Máva (Mavean) Na'aka'yae a'Máva (Map) Yénáka Máva (Kána)
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: "Likaa'ki Kékalak 'a ta Kéakan'u 'a Lowka" (Mavean) "Take Heed of the Leadings of God"
Anthem: Lowka Akalauma'ki Máva (Mavean) "God Bless Mava"
Location of Mava (red)
Capital and largest city	Pa'as
Official languages	Mavean
Recognised national languages	Map Kána
Ethnic groups	94.3% Mavean 3.1% Part-Mavean 2.6% Others
Demonym(s)	Mavean Mavanese
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic
• President	Kausánek Maláti
• Prime Minister	Nua Kiuiáké
• Speaker of the Assembly	Vauta Laumási
Legislature	Assembly
Independence from Atitlan
• Granted	3 April 1925
Area
• Total	1,734 km2 (670 sq mi)
• Water (%)	negligible
Population
• 2020 estimate	73,129 (TBC)
• Density	42.17/km2 (109.2/sq mi) (TBC)
GDP (PPP)	2019 estimate
• Total	748.25 million
• Per capita	10,232
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	667.52 million (TBC)
• Per capita	9,120 (TBC)
Currency	Mavean pua (MPU)
Time zone	UTCTBC (TBC)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+218
Internet TLD	.mv

Mava (Mavean: Máva), officially the Republic of Mava (Mavean: Naigál'yaké 'a Máva; Map: Na'aka'yae a'Máva; Kána: Yénáka Máva) is an island country located in Triania, consisting of two main islands, Naik'maké and Owurah'maké, and the smaller island of Tokuk'maké. With a total area of 1,734 km² (670 sq mi), and roughly 73,000 inhabitants, it is one of the smallest sovereign states in the world, in both land and population. The capital and largest city is Paas, located on Naik'maké.

Mava is a parliamentary representative democracy, with a popularly-elected president serving as head of state and a prime minister as head of government and chief executive. Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Assembly, from which the government is appointed. The economy of Mava is dependent on tourism, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. The majority of the inhabitants of Mava are indigenous Mavean, with a small number of part Mavean and the remainder largely immigrant workers and retired expatriates.

History

The Eguilondo Kingdom

In July 1867, Ibarmentudiak adventurer and convicted fraudster Otaño Eguilondo arrived in Mava, after having read a number of books on the Antarctic. He had been inspired by stories of travellers creating new societies in newly-discovered lands, and mistakenly believed that the population of Mava was little more than a few hundred. He landed at the modern settlement of Kaá'i in late July and immediately made contact with the local people. Initially surprised at the larger population than previously believed, he quickly ingratiated himself into the local community, using his talent for deceit to establish some influence. He claimed that he was a member of the deposed Aguirregoitiafelipenas dynasty, taking advantage of the Mavean custom of affording reverence to persons of a higher class, irrespective of their background. By 1870, he had fully adopted a Mavean identity, taking the name Kasák Tanána and marrying a local woman, who died shortly after the birth of his first child.

In 1875, he was elected leader of Naik'maké, the largest and most populous of the Mavean islands. His election was bolstered by repeated claims of royal ancestry as well as claims of a planned Ibarmentudiak invasion, which he pledged he could avert. In 1878, he proclaimed himself King of Mava on grounds of being the class equal of any potential coloniser. He took the name Káakaia II, claiming "spiritual decent" from the semi-mythical chief Káakaia, who is believed to have ruled in the seventeenth century, and issued a number of decrees establishing a new nobility and political system based on his homeland. Shortly after his accession, he married Náakala Kingup, the daughter of the previous ruler, thus further cementing his claim to leadership.

The Atitlanese authorities were alerted to his presence and promptly deported him, forcing him to write an official letter renouncing his claimed title and admitting to the falsehoods he had spread. Until the 1980s, there remained a substantial number of people who recognised Eguilondo and his descendants as legitimate rulers of the island. In 1987, papers were released in Ibarmentudia confirming his stories to be fabrications, undermining his reputation.

Self-government and independence

As the Atitlanese Empire entered into sustained decline, Mava, like many colonies, assumed a measure of self-government in anticipation for eventual independence. In 1908, a local parliament - the Island Council - was created to advise the Governor in policy-making; initially an appointed body, the council was elected by a limited franchise from 1913. On 3 April 1925, Atilatan granted Mava formal independence, with a new constitution adopted transforming the islands into a presidential republic. Kuráva Tanigak was elected the country's first president.

In 1927, Kuráva founded the Progressive Party of the Mavean Islands as a largely personalist grouping supporting him and his policies. Through the party, he assumed increasing control over political party, with several new laws and constitutional amendments granting more authority to the president at the expense of the assembly. During this period, political and civic freedoms were significantly curtailed, although a liberal economic policy enabled urban development and the emergence of a wealthy middling class. Kuráva's regime was largely benign compared to other dictatorships, with little violence used against political opponents.

Throughout the 1930s, efforts were made to improve the road network, improve sanitation in major urban areas, and modernise the economy. The government pursued policies encouraging workers to leave behind their informal subsistence-based work and entering into a regulated and taxed workforce. By 1940, 59 percent of workers were in "formal employment," compared to only 24 percent at the time of independence. The increased tax revenue arising from this enabled investment that further developed the fledgling economy and establishing new government services.

In 1942, Kuráva died and was succeeded by his protégé Kimna Kukané, who initiated a series of liberal reforms. A new constitution established a parliamentary system, creating the office of prime minister to serve as head of government. The stranglehold on power that the Progressive Party was weakened, and in 1944 the Party of Democratic Reform entered government in the first transfer of power since independence. Under the government of Kamak Anaikét, new welfare services were introduced, including a limited national health service and unemployment benefits.

Modern history

In the 1950s and 1960s, Mava enjoyed continued social and economic development, with per capita income increasing by around 4 percent year on year. Through an increase in revenue from fishing and mining, the government was able to expand public services to the point that Maveans became amongst the richest in the world. However, the decline in revenue from the late 1960s resulted in a significant drop in living standards, with cuts in government services resulting in a rise in poverty, illness, and crime. By the 1980s, living standards had declined to a level comparable to the 1940s, with Pa'a seeing mass crowding and cramped housing thanks to the unemployed moving from villages seeking work.

Beginning in 1987, the discovery of polymetallic nodules in Mavean territorial waters provided for a sudden economic boost. The mining of nickel and copper drew in much-needed revenue, enabling the government to invest in social programs and begin the process of diversifying the economy, although this has only seen minimal success.

The twenty-first century has seen a modest level of social and economic development, with a steady growth in per capita income and a moderate expansion in individual rights as traditional values receed. In 2002, new divorce laws removed the need for a special Act of the Assembly terminating a marriage, with a limited liberalisation in abortion laws following in 2009. In 2022, Nua Kiuiáké became the first female prime minister following her appointment by President Kausánek Maláti.

Geography

The country comprises two main islands, Naik'maké and Owurah'maké, which are separated by the Mava Strait.

The country comprises two main islands, Naik'maké and Owurah'maké, separated by the Mava Strait, and the smaller Tokuk'maké. Naik'maké is the largest of the island (1386 km²), followed by Owurah'maké (305 km²) and Tokuk'maké (44 km²). Together, these islands and the surrounding rocks and islets make up the Mava Islands, for which the country is named. The two larger islands are characterised by their long east-to-west coastlines, with Naik'maké being approximately 77 km long and 18 km wide. Owurah'maké is 11 km long and 4 km wide. The smallest of the main islands, Tokuk'maké, is approximately 15 km long and 3 km wide.

Approximately 30 percent of Naik'maké is covered in Magellanic subpolar forests, mostly in the south. The forests are home to a variety of flora. The southern beech (Nothofagus) is a common tree across the Mava islands. Because of the mostly untouched nature of many of these forests, a variety of animals have successfully established habitats. Amongst Mava's fauna include the southern river otter, the Magellanic woodpecker, the Trianian sierra-finch, and the Trianian condor.

Climate

Mava has a maritime climate, sitting in the transition region between the tundra (Köppen classifications ET) and subarctic zones (Cfc). The climate is characterised my a minimal temperature range across days and seasons. There is no marked wet and dry season, with the climate influenced by the cool ocean currents and southerly winds.

The average maximum temperature in January is around 12 °C (55 °F), whilst the July maximum average temperature drops to around 2 °C (35 °F). Average rainfall ranges from around 280-300mm in lowland areas to upwards of 1,500 mm in mountain terrain. Average rainfall is 890 mm. The weather is also characterised by humidity and high winds, the latter inspiring the name of the "Windy Islands". In wintertime, gales are particularly common. Despite the cold climate, snow is not common at any time of year, although it can appear in all months.

Climate data for Mava
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	25.6 (78.1)	23.4 (74.1)	22.1 (71.8)	22.9 (73.2)	16.6 (61.9)	14.3 (57.7)	13.0 (55.4)	14.8 (58.6)	15.6 (60.1)	18.0 (64.4)	19.7 (67.5)	21.9 (71.4)	25.6 (78.1)
Average high °C (°F)	12.0 (53.6)	12.1 (53.8)	11.3 (52.3)	9.5 (49.1)	6.7 (44.1)	5.4 (41.7)	4.8 (40.6)	5.0 (41.0)	5.7 (42.3)	7.2 (45.0)	8.8 (47.8)	10.7 (51.3)	8.3 (46.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	8.2 (46.8)	8.4 (47.1)	7.7 (45.9)	6.1 (43.0)	3.8 (38.8)	2.6 (36.7)	2.0 (35.6)	2.2 (36.0)	2.7 (36.9)	3.9 (39.0)	5.2 (41.4)	7.0 (44.6)	5.0 (41.0)
Average low °C (°F)	4.5 (40.1)	4.7 (40.5)	4.0 (39.2)	2.8 (37.0)	1.0 (33.8)	−0.1 (31.8)	−0.7 (30.7)	−0.6 (30.9)	−0.4 (31.3)	0.5 (32.9)	1.7 (35.1)	3.4 (38.1)	−0.7 (30.7)
Record low °C (°F)	−1.7 (28.9)	−1.2 (29.8)	−2.4 (27.7)	−4.6 (23.7)	−7.4 (18.7)	−8.7 (16.3)	−9.1 (15.6)	−9.7 (14.5)	−7.8 (18.0)	−5.3 (22.5)	−4.6 (23.7)	−3.5 (25.7)	−9.7 (14.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	52.4 (2.06)	44.6 (1.76)	59.4 (2.34)	64.6 (2.54)	70.4 (2.77)	69.3 (2.73)	69.6 (2.74)	60.9 (2.40)	56.5 (2.22)	46.3 (1.82)	51.0 (2.01)	52.1 (2.05)	697.1 (27.44)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.2 mm)	7.9	7.3	9.2	9.7	12.0	10.7	12.1	9.7	9.1	8.1	8.4	9.1	113.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours	187.4	158.6	145.8	114.7	95.5	74.9	86.1	106.7	128.4	153.6	166.8	182.5	1,601
Source: Government of Mava

Government and politics

Kausánek Maláti
President of Mava
since 2021

Nua Kiuiáké
Prime Minister of Mava
since 2022

Mava is a democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government. The head of state and nominal chief executive is the president (currently Kausánek Maláti), who is largely limited to ceremonial duties and representing Mava overseas. Despite this, it is the president who appoints the government and who signs into law bills approved by the parliament. They directly elected every three years via the first-past-the-post system. Executive power is largely concentrated in the prime minister (currently Nua Kiuiáké) and government, which is usually formed from the largest party or grouping represented in parliament.

Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Assembly, which is composed of 45 members elected through party-list proportional representation. All laws are required to be submitted to the assembly and approved by its members before they are promulgated, with the power of the assembly significantly increasing from a previously rubber-stamp body to a powerful political body. The government is appointed from amongst the largest party or grouping in the Assembly by the president; the prime minister is appointed to head the government.

Mavean politics continues to be dominated by a small group of aristocratic families, which possess significant power in government, the economy, and in the generation of culture. A strong social class divide constitutes the main obstacle to working-class involvement in the political system, and which has been subject to criticism within and outside of the country. Recent reformist leaders have sought to weaken the hold that these dominant families have on the political system, although this has faced significant resistance.

Law

The Constitution of Mava is the fundamental law, providing for a government based on the principles of human dignity, democracy, the rule of law, sustainability, and societal cohesion. The Mavean legal system is based on civil law implemented through a four-level court structure. The first level consists of summary courts, which deal with low-level crimes. The second level consists of criminal courts and district courts, which deal with criminal and significant financial cases respectively. The High Court hears appeals from the criminal and district courts, with the Supreme Court the court of final appeal. The Supreme Court also conducts constitutional reviews.

The judiciary is independent, with political interference explicitly prohibited. Judges are usually appointed for life, but are expected to retire at 75 unless requested to continue. Appointments are made by the president with the consent of the Assembly. Judges may only be removed by the president on the request of the Minister of Justice by command of the assembly.

Military

The defence of Mava is entrusted to the Mavean Defence Forces, which consists of the Mavean Army, the Mavean Naval Service, and the Mavean Air Force. The military is governed primarily through the National Defence Act, which provides that the armed forces is to defend Mava against internal and external threats, secure and patrol its territorial waters, and provide assistance and relief during times of disaster.

TAAK

TOKUKSIAGAK

MAVA

Paas

Aasqaalet

Taagokiajut

Sigaak

Saayup

Taak

Pmaak

Miilep

Kungaatiibisa

Districts of Mava

The Mavean Armed Forces, in its current form, came into existence on 1 May 1951. It was formed through the merger of the separate Mava Ground Forces and Mava Naval Force, and the creation of an independent air service as a third branch. There are currently around 1,200 service personnel enlisted in the armed forces, with 16 coastal patrol crafts and 3 aircrafts.

Administrative divisions

Mava is divided into 9 districts, 8 of which are located on the island of Naik'maké. The remaining district comprises the islands of Owurah'maké and Tokuk'maké, and is formally called the Mavean Dependencies of Owurah'maké and Tokuk'maké. Each district, except the dependencies, is governed by a locally-elected district council; Owurah'maké and Tokuk'maké are governed by an appointed governor due to the small population.

Until 2008, there was no provision for local government outside of the main island. However, the recent migration to Owurah'maké and Tokuk'maké required new government structures to be established. A statutory local authority has since been established to oversee limited local government on the islands.

Economy

The Mavean economy is described as "small, unmixed, and vulnerable," with a high dependence on fishing. Cod and salmon are important trading commodities and is the main employment for islanders and the single largest source of income. Because of this dependence, the economy is considered particularly vulnerable to changes in climate as well as competition from other nations, resulting in a comparatively per capita GDP of 9,120. The largest single employer is Ikámaa Siagak'akak Aké (National Fishing Company), which is a state-owned industry and employs between 25 and 35 percent of the country's working population.

Mining also constitutes an important part of the economy. Polymetallic nodules are present in Mava's territorial waters, with the mining of nickel, copper, and molybdenum providing an important boost to the economy from the 1980s. Recent attempts have been made to phase out mining as a source of national income and to create a maritime reserve. The Mavean government committed to pursuing a path towards reducing its dependency on mining, although little progress has been made.

Other important industries include finance and business (10.7%), housing (8.1%), and hospitality (5.3%).

Tourism

Tourism in Mava was undeveloped until relatively recently. Mava has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction for wildlife watching, outdoor activities, and cultural attractions. There are a number of rivers running across the islands that offer opportunities for canoeing and kayaking, prompting the growth of a service industry that is particularly prominent on Owurah'maké. Hiking and camping is also a popular pursuit, with Tokuk'maké a common destination for going off-grid. In 2019, the Mavean Tourist Board released a campaign called "roughing it", which encouraged adventurers to visit Mava.

Despite its growth in recent years, tourism in Mava remains comparatively low. In 2020 the Department of Finance and Economic Development reported that tourism numbers for the period 2018-2019 stood at approximately 80,000, an increase from around 50,000 a decade earlier. Despite its recent emphasis on tourism as a source of national income, the government's annual economic report revealed that tourism accounts for only around 1.9 percent of the national economy.

Philately and numismatics

The Mavean government issues a number of commemorative stamps and coins, which has transformed into a significant part of the country's tourism industry. Mavea issued its first stamps in 1919 and are very popular with collectors due to their unique designs and shapes. Until the 1990s, stamp collectors contributed a significant part of the country's "tourism and overseas-derived budget," subsequently declining as letter writing became less popular. Coin collecting has subsequently become a significant contibutor to the country's economy, with a series of collectors sets and bullion coins issued through the Reserve Bank of Mavea.

Energy

Beginning in the 21st century, the government has sought to replace the use of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. The primary focus is on windpower, taking advantage of the natural climate. In 2013, five 330 kW turbines were installed on the outskirts of Paa. In 2018, three offshore turbines were installed, with a further two 100 kW turbines installed on Owurah'maké. As of 2023, there is limited capacity to store surplus wind energy, with an underdeveloped battery storage system.

Demographics

Mava has a population of 73,129 (2020 estimate), up from 69,353 according to the 2017 census. The vast majority are ethnic Mavean or part-ethnic Mavean. Almost 95 percent of residents are indigenous Maveans, with another 3 percent being mixed-Mavean (i.e., being of part-Mavean background). Under laws dating back to the 1930s that still remain in force, a person may claim to be an ethnic Mavean if at least five pairs of their eight great-grandparents are Mavean.

Ethnic groups (2016)

  Mavean (94.3%)

  Part-Mavean (3.1%)

  Atitlanese/Visible minority (2.1%)

  Other (0.5%)

The majority of mixed-race Maveans claim some descent from the Atitlanese population resident on the island during colonial rule, although a small number claim ancestry from other Trianian people.

The economic crisis affecting Mava from the late 1960s until the late 1980s significantly affected Mava's population. A significant number emigrated to mainland Triania, with the general population declining by approximately 8 percent, exasperating the economic problems through a long-term brain drain and a shrinking of the working population. During this time, the population also become more centralised in and around Pa'a, which suffered increased population density, stretched services, and underprepared infrastructure. It wasn't until the 1990s that the population returned to steady growth and a successful effort was made to encourage migration out of Pa'a.

Languages

The most spoken languages spoken in Mava are the Mavean languages. Although closely linked and often collectively referred to as Mavean, they are separate languages that developed on each of the three islands. The largest, Mavean, is spoken on Naik'maké and is the predominate tongue of the vast majority of Maveans, being spoken by approximately 98 percent of the population. Map is spoken on the island of Owurah'maké; Kána is spoken on Tokuk'maké, but has no native speaker and is the second language of only a hand full of the island's few residents. All three languages are recognised in the constitution as national languages, although only Mavean proper is declared the country's official language.

Religion

Mava religiosity
Religion			Percentage
Christianity			92%
Indigenous beliefs			5%
Others			2%
None			1%

The predominant religion in Mava is Christianity, with the vast majority of practitioners (82 percent) being Roman Catholic. Roman Catholicism was introduced by Atitlanese colonists in the nineteenth century, and promoted amongst the indigenous population by missionaries. A small number of Protestant groups also exist on the islands, believed to have emerged out of Protestant émigrés escaping persecution. The majority of Protestants - mostly belonging to a uniting church - live in Pa'a, where the only Protestant churches are located. A small number of other Protestant denominations and Christian groups are also present on the islands, although they exist in small numbers and, in some cases, overlap with Catholic and major Protestant theologies.

Education

Education is free and compulsory for all people between the ages of 6 and 16. It consists of five years of primary education, three years of lower secondary education, and two years of higher secondary education. It is publicly funded through the Department of Education, Children and Families and is free of charge.

Following the completion of higher secondary education, Maveans can choose to pursue further education until age 18, enter into employment, or undertake vocational training. There is one university - the University of Mava - and three higher educational institutions: the National Mavean College, the Paa City College, and the Medical School of the Mava Islands. Until the 1980s, the majority of post-16 students were men, but since then women have largely outnumbered men in 16-18 and university education. Men outnumber women in vocational training (except in nursing and teacher training).

Culturally, Maveans hold education and scholarship in high esteem, with a number of prominent Mavean academics and researchers considered important figures. The National Library of Mava, in Paa, serves as a repository for all doctoral and master's dissertations written by Maveans in any country, as well as scholarly publications by or about Maveans. This is publicly available free of charge.

Culture

Storytelling and literature

Storytelling forms an important part of Mavean culture, with the passing of tales from one generation to the next a common way of establishing strong links between elders and youth. This form of storytelling, called Okégo'akak Kahátu (lit. "Warn Telling") originated in the warnings given to adolescents about the threats they may face, but evolved into a broader type of group activity. Different orators tell different stories, but a number of common themes run through most: a young person entering into the adult world, an individual/animal/spirit trying to lead them astray, and the realisation that they were being led astray.

Several of these stories have been recorded and compiled into published works. Some of these have become internationally known, including Ko’eát'u Owurah, and have brought Mavean culture to foreign audiences.

Cuisine

The Mavean diet consists largely of meat from marine mammals, fish, and birds. Because of the lack of arable land and the country's geography, much of Mavea's diety is derived from the ocean. The national dish is the tupiril pná ("second duck"), which emerged from the use of leftover roasted meat from the pintail.

Fish is a common ingredient. Popular fish used in Mavean dishes include the zebra trout and the spotted minnow, both of which are commonly used in breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Until 1998, otter meat was a commonly used ingredient, but an effort to protect them, as well as its adoption as Mava's national animal, led to a significant reduction in the consumption of otter. In 2016, the buying, butchering, and selling of otter meat was made illegal.

See also

• Politics of Marva
• Culture of Marva

External links

• Marva. The Global Factbook. United Nations