Orïsha
the kingdom ruled by King Saran
Yoruba
a linguistic and cultural group of southwestern Nigeria, Benin, and Togo
maji
ten clans of magical people in Orïsha, distinguished by their white hair and silver eyes
divîner
a maji with latent powers
kosidán
an Orïshan without the potential to do magic
majacite
a weaponized metal alloy that weakens magic and burns maji
ahéré
a rectangular Yoruba dwelling
agbön
a competitive game similar to disc-throwing
sênet
an ancient Egyptian strategy game
Chândomblé
the sacred, ancient temple where the sêntaros protect the secrets of magic
the stocks
the largely divîner labor force exploited by the king's army
ashê
the source of divine power from the gods that allows diviners to use magic. Ashê is present in the blood of divîners but not present in the blood of kosidán
marula oak
a type of tree indigenous to the woodlands of West Africa; Zélie's first staff is made from this material
akoma
a symbol of patience and tolerance
ibawi
maji children whose power has not manifested. Ibawi literally means ‘the divine.’
akofena
the symbol of swords of war, represented by crossed blades
Alâfia
heaven
apadi
hell, or a place of suffering for those who died a traumatic death
dashiki
a West African tunic-like garment
gele
an elaborate Nigerian head wrap
kaftan
a pullover robe worn by both men and women
agbada
a wide-sleeved West African robe
Ilorin
Zélie's seaside village
Sokoto
A city in Nigeria said to be home of the best healers in the world
Gombe
the industrial city where Kenyon lives
Ibeji
a desert outpost run by corrupt guards where laborers fight to the death in an arena
Ibadan
a Nigerian city, the capital of Oyo state
Sutōrī
the kingdom across the sea from which Roën hails
bone dagger
a dagger made of the bones of the first sêntaro which gives its wielder the strength of all those who used the dagger before it
sunstone
a living fragment of Sky Mother’s soul that amplifies maji powers
animation
lifelike beings Zélie creates using her magic and physical elements, like earth
reaper
a maji with the power to rip a person’s spirit from their body or raise the dead
connector
a maji who wields power over mind, spirit, and dreams
seer
a maji with the power to predict the future by receiving visions
tider
a maji with the ability to control water
burner
a maji with the ability to control fire
cancer
a maji with the power to create sicknesses that harm or kill others
grounder
a maji with power over the earth
sêntaro
the order tasked with protecting magic
sênbaría
the written language of the gods that became the spoken language of Yoruba
mamaláwo
a female leader of the sêntaros
Sky Mother
the creator of all life, divinities, and magic
Oya
the goddess of life and death
Orí
the god of mind, spirit, and dreams
Orúnmila
the god of time
Yemoja
The goddess of the sea
Sàngó
the god of fire
Babalúayé
the god of health and disease
Yemọja
the goddess of water who took the Sky Mother's tears
Ayao
the god of air
Tóju
a bar where divîners can gather in peace
ryder
supernatural animals, such as lionaires and leopanaires, that transport and protect their owners
Àjọyò
the festival celebrating the Sky Mother and the birth of the gods and goddesses
irukere
Oya's signature short whip made from the hair of a lionaire
Ibadan
the mountainous region of Orïsha where Zélie lived before the Raid
moín moín pie
a steamed bean cake
shuku shuku
a coconut dessert
oloye
noblewoman