The Nameless Republic – Character Name Pronunciation Guide

This is Endnotes from Oon, a series of posts in which I offer behind-the-scenes worldbuilding, research, extra and/or other tidbits in relation to my new epic fantasy series, The Nameless Republic, beginning with Son of the Storm. I will try my utmost best to avoid spoilers, but they may be inevitable to a small degree, as I might need to provide context for one thing or the other. If you’re risk-averse and would prefer to wait until you’ve read the book before you eyeball any of these emails, that’s great. But if you’re the brave sort, read on.

(Stresses--upward intonations--are on uppercase letters. Flat intonations on lowercase)

Abuso (ah-boo-SOH): Speaker of the Upper Council of the nation of Bassa

Abulele (ah-BOO-lay-LAY): A friend of Danso’s, sometimes called Abu for short.

Afanfan, Owude (ah-FAN-fan, oh-WOO-day): Friends of Biemwense, children

Aifu (aee-foo): A First Elder of Bassa

Ariase (ah-REEAH-say): Dota’s Second

Basuaye (BAH-soo-ah-YAY): The leader of the Coalition for New Bassa, also known as The Cockroach

Biemwensé (BEE-EH-mwen-SAY): Whudan potter and former Supreme Magnanimous of the Whudasha Youth

Danso (DAN-soh): Son of Habba and Bassa’s brightest novitiate jali

Dọta (DOR-tah): First Elder and First Merchant of the Upper Council of Bassa

Esheme (ay-SHEH-mee): Daughter of Nem and novitiate counsel

Ebose (ay-BOH-seh): A priest of the moon temple in Bassa

Habba (HAH-ba): Danso’s father, formerly of the jali guild and later a private healer

Igan (EE-gan): A general of the Coalition for New Bassa

Idiado (ee--DEEAH-doh): Leopard Emperor, the Sixteenth Emperor of Great Bassa

Ikobi (ee-KOH-bee): Esheme’s mentor at counsel guild

Ilobi (ee-LOH-bee): A priest of the moon temple in Bassa

Indina (een-DEE-nah): A Whudan Youth

Isago (EE-sah-GOH): A First Elder of Bassa

Kakutan (kah-koo-TAN): Supreme Magnanimous of the Whudasha Youth

Kubra (koo-brah): A general of the Gaddo Company

Lilong (lee-LONG): A warrior from Namge, one of the many islands of the eastern archipelago referred to as the Nameless Islands

Mokhiri (moh-KHEE-ree): Zaq’s lover

Nem (nem): Bassa’s prime fixer and mother to Esheme

Nogowu (noh-GOH-woo): Manic Emperor, the Twenty-Third Emperor of Great Bassa

Nowssu (now-SOO): A friend of Danso’s

Oboda (oh-boh-DAH): Nem’s Second, and later Esheme’s Second.

Oduvie (oh-DOO-veeay): Danso’s mentor at scholar guild

Oke (oh-keh): Abuso’s daughter and Bassai scholar

Pochuwe, Uduuwe, Kachuwe (poh-CHOO-way, ooh-DOO-way, kah-CHOO-way): Danso’s triplet uncles and Habba’s brothers

Satti (sah-TEE): Caretaker for the MaaNem household

Sankofa (SAHN-koh-fah): A Whudan Youth

Tamino (tah-MEE-no): A general of the Coalition for New Bassa

Tumwenke (toom-WEHN-kay): Emperor of Enlightenment, the Fifteenth Emperor of Great Bassa

Ulobana (oo-LOH-bah-NAH): A general of the Coalition for New Bassa

Uria (ooh-REE-ah): A friend of Danso’s

Usi (OOH-see): The DaaHabba household’s kwaga

Viasi (vee-AH-see): Oboda’s leopardZaq (zak): Danso’s Second and only househand to the DaaHabba household