Mascot of the Republic of Kisi
Dede
pronounced “Day-day”
No office, all heart. Dede greets you first.
- Office
- None. Outranks everybody anyway.
- Tribe
- Both, by belonging to neither
- Known for
- Greeting every visitor first
Every great republic has a beloved national figure who holds no office, answers no questions, and outranks everybody. At Kisi, that figure is Dede. He is first to every gathering, first to the gate, and first to welcome a face he has never seen before.
The story of Dede
Nobody appointed Dede. He simply turned up one morning at the front of every gathering and has been there ever since. When the flock lines up for the dawn chorus, Dede is at the end of the row. When a hatch-day is celebrated, he is already there. When a nervous new chick arrives, he walks it to the feed line personally.
Dede belongs to no tribe, which is exactly why both claim him. The Isa-Brown say he has the patience of a good layer; the Noiler say he has the nerve of a range bird. Dede lets both be right and eats at whichever trough is closest.
His morning round is the Republic's most reliable clock. Chicks are told that if they are kind, brave, and finish their feed, they too might grow up to greet the whole nation by name. Very few things at Kisi are non-negotiable. Dede's morning welcome to every visitor is one of them.
“You don't need a title to show up first.”