[Cultures] The Neobedouins [WIP]

[Guardian Circe]

From the Southern tip of Africa to the the eastern-most tip of Russia, there are tribes of people who have been wandering for centuries. The Neobedouins, they call themselves. They are a culture both respected and reviled, depending on where they are at the time, and they call no one city 'home'. No one is quite sure when the Neobedouins started, but what is known is that they are a culture as old as Crystal Tokyo WOULD have been, were it still around. They are many tribes that follow a nomadic way of life, united only by a common ethnicity, culture, language, and religion.  

[Guardian Circe]

Their base ethnic 'seed' is Arabic, with heavy Persian, Indian, and South Chinese influences. Other ethnic influences can be found, thanks to their wandering nature. The average Neobedouin skin tone is light brown to brown, hair color ranges from light brown to black, with some dark reds, and eye color tends to be green, hazel, or brown. (Note that this is average, but there are quite a few Neobedouins with more varied coloring, due to blood from outside.)

Average height for men is 5'9", average height for women is 5'6". Build tends to be small, and made for agility. The nomadic lifestyle leaves VERY few of this people overweight, though there are those with a larger build. Language is a polyglot of Arabic, Persian, Indian, and Cantonese. Clothing tends to show the Arabic base in style with some Indian influences (saris are not entirely uncommon when in warmer, non-desert regions), with fabrics ranging from an airy cotton to sturdy silks. Bright colors are as common as earthy ones, and the trim and embroidery on clothing is very Persian and Chinese in influence.

Headshot of an 'average male'
 

[Guardian Circe]

Though some have classed them are 'war-like' or 'barbarians', the Neobedouins are, in truth, a rather peaceful and civilized people. Their way of life, and preparedness towards threats against them, is simply different than most.

Though their families are patrilineal and their god male, their society is not patriarchal. Leadership is both male and female; males lead in things involving battle, providing for the family, clan, and tribe materially, and the male prayers and religious activities; females lead in things involving the education of the family, clan, and tribe, the non-gender-specific and the female-specific religious activities, and medicine. Males support and protect the family, while females educate and nurture the family.

Hospitality is VERY important to the Neobedouins. They are polite to strangers, and when one is offered the hospitality of a Neobedouin's bayt, they are treated as a cousin. If the hospitality is broken by the Neobedouin without good reason, they are subject to harsh punishment from the leaders of the tribe. If the hospitality is broken by another of the tribe, it is considered

Their religion is called 'Allayla', derived from the Arabic 'Allah ayla' or 'God's family', and has roots in the old religion of Islam. Female practioners are called 'khâuk', meaning 'sister' and male practioners are called 'dâkh', meaning 'brother'. They believe in one God, Allah (one of the words surviving from Arabic intact), and that He created the world and mankind. And that from His creations, He eventually took a wife Almas, and had 4 children by her; 2 boys named Baligh and Muhair, and 2 girls named Fadiyah and Karimah. They were His Prophets (Nabi), who spoke of His glory and brought His Word to the people, the Family (Ayla). In death, the five joined Him, gaining eternal youth and becoming His head messengers (Goumalak) to the Ayla. And beneath them in 'rank' are those of the Ayla who have passed on, the ancestors of those alive, known simply as 'malak'. The malak are often sent to guide their descendants when divine help is needed, acting as Allah's voice since His voice is too great for the ears of today's mortals. Despite the different roles in life, men and women are equal in the eyes of Allah. (More on the religion as I go...)