Thubani
Thubani (Oharic) 图班 (Tú bān) 天龙座 (Tiānlóng zuò) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1499 | |||||||||
 Flag | |||||||||
 Location of Thubani, halfway between San Ba and Orioni. | |||||||||
| Capital | Mishigi | ||||||||
| Common languages | Orinese | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Thubanese | ||||||||
| Government | Colony | ||||||||
| Historical era | Orinese colonial era | ||||||||
• Established | 1499 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1969 | ||||||||
• State merger | 1982 | ||||||||
| Currency | Sanbanese Yuan | ||||||||
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Thubani is an island in the Rosario Sea.
Etymology
- Name comes from RL Arabic for “large snake” or “python”.
- RL Thuban (Alpha Draconis) was the pole star a few millennia BCE. “Draconis” (in !Latin) is “Zenido” (in Oharic).
- RL Chinese name is “Right Wall of Purple Forbidden Enclosure”, a possible reference to the boundary between the Three Kingdoms and Orioni.
Geography
Climate
Situated in the Rosario Sea, Thubani enjoys a tropical maritime climate, characterised by warm temperatures, high humidity, and abundant rainfall. The climate is largely regulated by the wind from the Rosario Sea. The year is divided into two distinct seasons: the wet season, which typically runs from November through April, and the dry season from May through October. Annual rainfall averages around 2,500 millimetres, although this can be significantly higher in the interior highlands.
Temperature-wise, Thubani remains consistently warm throughout the year, with average daily temperatures rarely falling below 24 °C (75 °F). This warmth, coupled with the island's fertile soils, makes Thubani an ideal location for agricultural activities, including rubber plantations, which were established in the early 1800s and continue to be a significant part of the island's economy.
Terrain and natural features
Thubani's terrain is predominantly flat, with a handful of low-lying mountains in the interior, the highest of which is Mount Ndwiga, named after the nation's independence leader, Ambatya Ndwiga. Named after the Sanbanese word for 'elevation', the mountain stands at 1,232 metres and is part of the Mishigi Range. The island is also crisscrossed by several small rivers, the largest being the River Butu, which is named after the country's second Prime Minister, Natsinda Butu.
The island is renowned for its abundant natural beauty, which includes verdant forests, rolling hills, and stunning beaches. The coastline is dotted with numerous sandy beaches, rocky outcrops, and small inlets, providing a rich habitat for a variety of marine life.
Flora and fauna
The flora of Thubani is rich and diverse, reflecting the island's tropical climate. The island's interior is characterised by luscious rainforests, home to a wide variety of plant species, including towering hardwood trees, vibrant orchids, and a plethora of medicinal plants. Thubani's rainforests have long been a source of valuable timber, and were instrumental in the island's historical shipbuilding industry.
Thubani's fauna is equally diverse, with the island hosting a number of species not found elsewhere. Notable among these is the Thubanese python, a non-venomous snake species that can grow up to 4 metres in length. The python, from which the island gets its name, is a key part of the island's ecosystem, serving as a top predator.
The waters surrounding Thubani teem with a diverse array of marine life, including numerous species of fish, crustaceans, and molluscs. These marine resources have long been a crucial part of the Thubanese diet and economy, with sustainable fishing practices forming a key part of the island's culture.
Despite the pressures of development and population growth, Thubani has made significant strides in conservation. A number of national parks and protected areas have been established across the island, ensuring the preservation of its unique biodiversity for future generations. The largest of these is the Ndwiga National Park, established in 1985, which encompasses a significant portion of the island's interior forests and the entirety of Mount Ndwiga.
Human geography
The human geography of Thubani is shaped by its historical, cultural, and economic landscapes. The island's population of approximately 873,831 is distributed across a number of urban and rural settlements, each with its own unique character and identity.
Mishigi, the capital city, is the island's most populous urban centre, characterised by its historical significance and status as a commercial hub. The city's architecture reflects its colonial past, with a blend of Orinese and traditional Thubanese styles evident in its buildings. Other major urban areas include Adib and Youshu, both of which play significant roles in the island's economy and society. These cities, along with Mishigi, are well-connected by an efficient network of roads and public transportation, facilitating the movement of people and goods across the island.
Beyond the urban centres, Thubani's rural landscapes are characterised by their luscious forests, rolling hills, and rich soil. These regions are primarily involved in agricultural activities, with farming and livestock rearing being key components of the local economy. In the rural areas, traditional Thubanese ways of life are particularly prevalent. Communities in these areas have a deep connection with the land and the sea, with fishing being a major source of sustenance and income. The practice of sustainable fishing is deeply ingrained in these communities, reflecting their respect for the environment and the natural resources it provides.
History
Pre-colonial History
Prior to colonial incursion, Thubani was a vital part of the Pearl Road trade network. Its forests, rich in timber, were used to construct ships, granting the island an invaluable strategic resource that would play a pivotal role in its later decolonisation.
Colonial Period
Thubani was initially seized from the dominion of Ide Jima by Sanbanese pirates, before being captured by the Orinese. In 1499, the island was colonised by the Orinese Empire, which continued to develop it as their empire expanded. Throughout the period of Orinese control from 1499 to 1969, a series of formidable castles were constructed to govern and protect the island. These citadels were immense, fortified, and heavily guarded.
Mishigi (Oharic: fort), the westernmost castle and home to the governing council and their immediate family members, was under the rule of a Danya and his family. The Danya, appointed by the monarch, ruled the colony in exchange for his loyalty and service to the empire. Matters beyond the immediate control of the Danya, such as local military affairs, were managed by a council of five representatives, each representing a different region of the island. These regions underwent a redrawing every fifty years or so.
Influences from the Amisti religion permeated the island's culture during this time. Ahuni, the Orinese New Year, is still one of the major holidays that the Sanbanese people celebrate.
Independence
1969 marked a pivotal shift in the island's history as Thubani became the last Orinese colony to gain its independence. The people of Thubani, weary of colonial rule and oppression, rallied around a leader named Ambatya Ndwiga, who led the resistance against the Orinese. Ndwiga, fluent in the island's native language, used it to disseminate anti-colonial sentiments amongst the people, organising strikes and acts of sabotage against the colonial rule. In July 1969, the Thubanese people revolted, declared their independence, and named Ndwiga as Prime Minister of the newly independent nation.
Independence signified the end of outside aid from Orioni, pushing Thubani to establish its own self-sustaining economy. By 1970, Thubani had joined the Assembled Nations, with fishing emerging as a major industry. The Thubanese people, understanding the sea as a divine gift, honed their fishing skills and learned to fish sustainably.
Ndwiga was succeeded by his daughter, Natsinda Butu, who further developed the fishing industry by implementing catchment management to boost the productivity of the sea and passed a law prohibiting the use of foreign fishing nets in Thubanese waters.
- Add post-colonial history. Look to Sri Lanka and Taiwan for inspiration.
Union with San Ba
In 1982, Thubani chose by referendum to unite with San Ba, a neighbouring country with which it shared profound ethnocultural connections. The referendum vote was overwhelmingly in favour, with 89.1% voting for unification. Despite the merger, a substantial Orinese minority remains present on the island, and Ahuni continues to be a major celebration for the Thubanese people.
Politics
- Part of San Ba
- Probably some semi-autonomous rights and privileges.
- Governing system might be similar to how the Orinese ruled, with an appointed viceroy. That would be a governor now, since San Ba is a republic.
Pre-colonial ruler, 12th Century. (See Shunten)
Military
With a population of almost 873,831 they are by far the largest territory to forego maintaining their own military. To understand why Thubani doesn't have a military, we need to understand a bit of Thubanese History. Thubani as a nation hasn't actually existed in its current form for very long. Since 1499, Thubani was a part of Orioni and as such was protected by their relatively impressive military. While historically, Thubani had few powers of self-governance, the early 20th century saw Thubani slowly gain devolved powers. The most significant development in the right to self-governance happened in 1969 when Thubani became a sovereign country.
In 1982, after a referendum, Thubani joined with San Ba as a semi-autonomous region. In essence, Thubani was bound to San Ba through their common head of state. When hashing out the details of what the new relationship between Thubani and San Ba would look like, Thubani requested that San Ba would continue to represent its foreign affairs and would handle its defence interests on Thubani's behalf. It was made clear though that Thubani would still have powers over these two areas and San Ba would only take responsibility for them for as long as Thubani asked them to.
San Ba established the Thubanese Defence Force or TDF, which was mainly composed of Sanbanese troops but also included some Thubanese citizens. The group has been stationed at the Naval Air Station in Mishigi since 1983. Thubani also signed a defence cooperation agreement with San Ba that required Sanbanese jet fighters and surveillance aircraft to patrol Thubanese airspace and assist in providing rescue helicopters. More recently in 2018, they signed the Rosario Sea Defence Cooperation Vision 2025, a multilateral security agreement between San Ba, Ide Jima, Kotowari, Tamurin, and Thubani.
Economy
- Add current economic situation, integration with San Ba.
- Minig of mineral products include alabaster, tin, and tungsten.
- During colonial times, valuable woods such as teak and pine were a major export industry. But these forests were largely been redurecd by unsustainable logging. What remains of these forests are now protected spaces for nature and wildlife. National parks of Taiwan are protected spaces for the nature, wildlife, and history under their current jurisdiction. Currently there are seven national parks in Thubani, covering 29% of the entire land area of the country. The largest of these is K’onijo Bota National Park (Oharic: beautiful place). All protected lands are administered by the Ministry of the Interior.
Culture
- What is the language of San Ba? (San Ban sounds silly, as does Sanbanese)
- Thubanese music is closely connected to the economy and social life. For example, they sing to their livestock.
- The simimineti dance is a traditional Thubanese performance. "Simimineti" roughly translates as "harmony". The dance includes a series of uniform movements, accompanied by music played from traditional instruments.
A woman wearing traditional Burkinese jewelery.
K’onijo Bota National Park.
Traditional simimineti dance team.
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