Nzandi

Nzandi, officially the Federal Republic of Nzandi, is the westernmost country in Kasare. It is a part of the Kekere (lower) region of Kasare, and is bordered by Alero to the north and Ukuta to the northeast.

Nzandi had been inhabited for thousands of years, most notably by the Jama Wedu Empire, which lasted from the 11th century to its colonization by Agarad in the early to mid 19th century. The civilization controlled a vast swath of the southern continent, ruling via an indirect tributary system stretching from Ukuta to Kawabe province. The Wedu vassalized the Mgbo-N’enu, and the Jama Wedu would move to be more and more demanding of the Mgbo N’enu, causing the alienation of the people of Ukuta, and an unsuccessful revolt. This revolt, along with many others, would lead to even more severe cultural and religious suppression. The civilization followed many religions such as the largest religion, Suwefi (Wedu: Su Wefi), which was the native Wedu religion, which emphasizes principles based on maintaining balance between certain aspects of life, and different aspects of the soul, in relation to the distant sky god and source of spirituality, Lori.

Etymology
During the period of the Jama Wedu empire, Nzandi was referred to as Komu wa Dedele

Until its independence in 1952 the colony of Nzandi was referred to as Banubia, coming from the native Kokole name of the Banube Sea to its southeast. From 1952 it was referred to officially as Koma wa Dedele.

Antiquity
The Jama Wedu civilization followed many religions such as the largest religion, Suwefi (Wedu: Su Wefi), which was the native Wedu religion, which emphasizes principles based on maintaining balance between certain aspects of life, and different aspects of the soul, in relation to the distant sky god and source of spirituality, Lori.

Early modern era
Nzandi’s modern borders are remnants of colonial infrastructure, a consequence of the purchase of the country by Agarad from different charter companies, as well as its own colonial borders. At the turn of the 20th century, the Wedu empire was on its way out, with a civil war of succession occurring between two princes, Damo Ayafa Wedu, and Ampawe Ayafa Wedu. The semi-autonomous city of Eo Ngasa, capital of the Khadrami-majority province of Kawabe, allied with the Kingdom of Alero and declared independence from the Wedu empire, only to be declared a protectorate of Alero halfway through the war. During Alero's monarchical period, Agarad traders had encountered trading problems caused by the civil war in the empire. The Banube Charter Company (BCC) was created in order to manage trade coming from the bountiful eastern Nzandi, and other areas in the south of Kasare. The BCC introduced Jarader writing to Nzandi, as well as h'Ejrad, which became practiced in many places especially in the eastern areas of the country, and bought Western Nzandi and the regions that would eventually become modern-day Ukuta from the Alero monarchy.

Ampawe Ayafa Wedu was killed in the war of succession, but before Damo could declare sovereignty over the crumbling nation, Agarad invaded what was left of the empire, driving Damo Ayafa out of the capital of Ngasa Diri, where he sought refuge in Alero but was unable to ever reclaim his throne. The Agar, with superior weaponry and navy, were able to conquer the Wedu, and the disorganized empire collapsed. Agar missionaries quickly launched a campaign of conversion, especially targeting rural regions which were particularly effective in what would become Ukuta.

In order to take over governance of the territory, the Agarad government bought the Banube Charter Company for !$770,000. The Agarad government, in its management of the country, continued conversion of Nzandians to h’Ejrad. This resulted in persecution of native religions, the stratification of Nzandi society divided between Jarader Nzandians and non-Jaraders, with knowledge of their language allowing them to succeed in the Agarad colonial society. Agarad ruled through direct governance, putting power in the hands only of Jarader natives.

After Agarad lost in the First World War and was forced to give up its colonies in the !TREATY, the Manuak aristocracy ruling from Ndireyo had strong Agarad sympathies and maintained its Jarader hegemony.

In 1950, a Haksar-educated general by the name of Kedo Abe led a successful revolt against the colonial regime, and instituted a far-right government, founded on his ideology of Kea Done, “The Upright Way.” He changed the name of Banube to Nzandi, which is Wedu for “The Ascension,” to symbolize that the spirit of Nzandi, which he claimed was not contained in the land itself, but in the spirit of its people and its newfound identity free from h’Ejrad and Haradmat oppression.

Modern day
As the First Ascension of Nzandi grew, Kedo Abe encouraged refugees from political strife in Alero to settle in Nzandi from 1953 to 1985 when the secession of Ukuta began. The people of Ukuta, who were overwhelmingly Jarader, would face religiocide and persecution under his regime, which was Wedu-supremacist and anti-religious. Groups like ha-Darrusa and the DFLU would engage in a guerilla war with the Nzandi government and win an independent republic by 1986.

Under this persecution of Jaraders, many adherent refugees fled to nearby Alero, both from western Nzandi and what would become the nation of Ukuta.

Under Abe’s jurisdiction, the country experienced a massive spike in literacy, industrialization, education, economic growth, and industrialization. After his death in 1997, his successor Kenanda Gabiri formed the People’s Front of Nzandi, and pledged to open the political process and continue Abe’s vision for the country, but with a return to what was called the ‘spirit of the original Nzandi revolution,’ away from Abe’s ‘deviance,’ namely the ethnic discrimination among non-Wedu Nzandians. The Front adopted this platform to appeal to the much-needed support of the bourgeois non-Wedu who had been disenfranchised under Abe, as well as the remnants of Haradmat colonizers, who maintained riches in the country.

When Kenanda Gabiri won an election for the fourth time, the Nzandi military, who had been composed rather heavily of Jarader soldiers, threatened a coup if he would not step down and institute term limits. Gabiri respected these conditions, and promptly stepped down, to be replaced by Damini Alowey.

In the modern day, Nzandi is a country struggling to improve the quality of life of citizens outside city centers. It is very aggressive on the world stage, and a major player in central Kasare. The government is generally still right-leaning, although has become more liberal since the death of Kedo Abe.