RIVER TRIBE.    headcanons #1.

_{DISCLAIMER:     my research on this has taken me to the ethiopian tribes of the omo river, and i will be basing my headcanons surrounding this matter on what i have read.  this also fits with the fact that the elder of the river tribe ( who i haven’t decided what relationship i see him as to nakia yet ) wears a lip plate,  that has commonly been found in ethiopia in the women of the suri and mursi people.  i myself am jamaican british and so a lot of this is based purely on the reading i have done,  if you have any constructive criticism pls let me know.}   

• _{the river trible control and have dominion over the water in wakanda.  they primarily make their homes around the curves of the river and these homes are based on traditional tukuls.  their villages are designed to be circular,  emphasising the precedence set on the community and what is best for all rather than the few.}  
  
• _{they are excellent fishers and their diet focuses on what they may fish from the river around them and what they can farm. whilst fish makes up a lot of their diet,  they have very healthy trade relationships with the other tribes in wakanda and do, therefore, tend to have a very mixed basis for their dishes.  other tribes do rely on them for food and as such,  they can be a rather powerful force.  a lot of the technology that is focused on within the tribe is that which will make them better fishers,  as to show yourself as talented in this can be a show of status.} 
  
• _{before fishing, they ask bast to bless the waters.  a lot of their words / speaking towards bast will end with thanks for giving them plentiful rivers.  before the challenge for the kingship,  they regularly bless the water as it is seen as bringing luck to their king.  they can be superstitions and to ignore these blessings is seen to bring bad fishing to the people.}
• _{dancing is huge in the river tribe,  and they often express extreme joy / gratitude with dancing.  their traditional dances include a lot of storytelling,  and has been used as a way that tribal legends have been passed down.}  
• _{body modification is a normal and embraced part of the culture.  it is only those who move into places such as the dora milaje and the war dogs who do not subscribe to this as readily, and it is only due to the roles they fall into.  likewise,  body painting is used at all cultural events and is considered to be a pinnacle of beauty.   lip plates are worn by men and women alike,  and can be seen as a show of status,  with the elder wearing the largest (at present moment)}
• _{they have a very good relationship with other tribes and tend to come and go from the central town as they live very close.  they are particularly close with the merchant tribe and offer a lot to trade / sell in the present economy.}