Tohaē Bunōnehē

To-ha-ee Boon-oo-neh-ee.  An example of a language of a people I've created called the Sundai.  I've been working on worldbuilding for a story for the past year.  I lost the document so I was angry about that, but recently the magic has returned and I've gotten a lot done, considering that I had to start from scratch.  I specifically wanted to base my story on one of our black folktales.  The one I chose is The Singing Bone.

If you haven't heard of it or read it, definitely google it.  It's really short and there's murder, bones and roses.  Also look up Brer Rabbit.  It's a travesty.  I wish I was an artist so I could draw Brer Rabbit art.  I didn't even know he'd been Disney-fied at all and the art that does exist of him, which is very little, is terrible.  I can't take him into my hands and color him on paper but words are my art and I can redeem him in that way.

In my research I found that Brer Rabbit likely comes from the Hare trickster, Adanko.  I couldn't find art of him either.  For inspiration, I ended up having to just search for rabbit warriors.  I found one that was very fitting. Brer Rabbit is the trickster in this novel.  He will introduce himself when the reader first sees him by saying his friends call him Brother.  Before the end, the main character will learn his true name.

The main characters name is Quincy Rose Thorn.  Because it's based on a folktale, there is a fairytale quality to this novel.  Alice in Wonderland comes to mind.  It will be a black woman led epic fantasy.  In fact, all of the characters are black or magical creatures.  Fun fact, Quincy Rose is my second choice for a girl baby name.  I can't know if I'll ever have a girl, let alone two, but in this story, she ushers in a new age.

I'm excited for The Singing Bone, not only because I've been looking for the storyline that I could build a black epic fantasy around for years, but because the themes that are entertwined in it are so important to me.  My family is in this story as are all of you as my kinfolk. 

How do we as a people Become again? Through many trials and great effort and sacrifice. It's our history. It's our present. We as a people carry the weight of Becoming, god spirits in mortal flesh. We were made to forget and now we are beginning to remember.  This fantasy, has always been my fantasy. Our people, together again, and strong and loving and kind. And willing to do what it takes to get there. 

I think it will be both hard and easy to write. It's already grown so beyond it's fable origins. Brer Rabbit will bring you in like a black Alice in Wonderland story. No idea what you're truly getting into. No idea at all.  And I'm excited to write it.  Quality comes first though, so I will continue to write the lore of the Sundai.  Their old ways and the new.

I'll leave you with this bit of lore, my friend.  Becoming is what god spirits do once they fulfill the trials they must face while living amongst us in a mortal body.  They do not know what they will be when it's done and the suffering in mortal flesh can be almost more than one can handle.  Yet a god spirit knows that the goal is to Become and once they do, they will be greater than their past.