Children of Blood and Bone

Children of Blood and Bone Glossary

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

Buy Study Guide Cite this page