Jaffa (Stargate)
The
Jaffa are a fictional alien race, in the television series
Stargate SG-1. They are actually biologically human and descended from people from Earth who were kidnapped by the
Goa'uld using the
Stargate during antiquity. They were kidnapped and modified to serve as warriors, slaves, and hosts.
Jaffa live on several different planets, depending on which Goa'uld they serve, so they have no one "homeworld" (as they were originally human slaves from Earth). However, planets with large concentrations of Jaffa include
Chulak,
Dakara, and
Delmak.
The main function of the Jaffa is to serve their gods, the
Goa'uld, as warriors and incubators for Goa'uld
larvae. Some Jaffa groups, such as those who served the Goa'uld
Moloch are genetically engineered so that their immune system will fail when they reach puberty (which they call the age of prata), so they will die if they do not receive a symbiote. An immature Goa'uld larva is then implanted in a
marsupial-like pouch in the Jaffa abdomen, in which it grows to maturity before implantation in a host.
The presence of the larva replaces the Jaffa's
immune system, and after receiving a Goa'uld larva a Jaffa is unable to live for long without one. Additionally, the Jaffa needs to engage in a form of meditation known as Kelna'rim on regular intervals in order to synchronise with the symbiote. If Kelna'rim is not performed the Jaffa might become seriously ill. In exchange, the Goa'uld offers strength, health and a long life (120-150 years). Following the discovery of
Egeria, the drug
Tretonin was developed to allow the former Jaffa host to survive without a larva.
All Jaffa have a brand on their foreheads bearing the insignia of the
Goa'uld they serve. In most cases it is just a black
tattoo, but in the case of each
System Lord's
First Prime (chief warrior and commander), it is a raised mark, made with a special knife and filled with pure molten gold in what even Teal'c says is a very painful process.
A faction of the Jaffa that identified the Goa'uld as false gods went into hiding thousands of years ago, and became known as the Legendary
Sodan. These Jaffa do not bear any mark but retain the symbiote pouch; they steal larval Goa'uld in raids.
Supposedly, married male Jaffa must shave their heads soon after their wedding. However, in his current spirit of rebellion against the old ways,
Teal'c later grows a short fuzz of hair.
Teal'c (portrayed by
Christopher Judge), a Jaffa who chooses to join the SG-1 team and fight for freedom, starts out as a lone traitor, but gradually and with the aid of his former Jaffa mentor,
Bra'tac, Teal'c is able to rally an increasing number of other Jaffa to his cause of freedom.
Jaffa Resistance
By season six, the
Jaffa Resistance has been formed; an organized rebellion against the Goa'uld of which Teal'c is a prominent leader. At the end of season eight, Teal'c achieves his goal and finally helps liberate the Jaffa from the
Goa'uld; the Goa'uld were weakened by first a civil war amongst the
System Lords (precipitated by the ascent of
Ba'al and the unexpected return of
Anubis), and then decimated by an invasion of our galaxy by the Replicators.
Soon after, forces of the Tau'ri are able to defeat the Replicators. The Jaffa see the Goa'uld's inability to save themselves from the Replicators as proof that they are false Gods, especially when System Lord
Ba'al makes a cowardly escape from the Jaffa Resistance, after which the Jaffa turn against the Goa'uld
en masse.
Free Jaffa Nation
In season nine, the
Free Jaffa Nation is being set up; it appears that
High Council representation will be based on the military strength of the coalitions, against Teal'c's wishes; Teal'c himself advocates
new ways, supposedly adopted from the
Tau'ri. He hints to General
Hank Landry that he wants a
democratic system.
Gerak becomes leader of the Jaffa High Council despite the efforts of Teal'c and the Tau'ri. He even strengthens his position by capturing Ba'al and executing him before the Council's eyes. The interest he shows in the religion of the
Ori -
Origin - after having seen "the show" by the
Prior is disconcerting, especially now he has won the hearts and minds of the Council.
A threat of civil war begins to brew as Gerak advocates that all Jaffa should follow the Ori and even adopt a law to that effect. When prompted by a Prior to wipe out the
unbelievers he is too fainthearted. He is taken to Celestis - the City of the Gods - and transformed into a Prior himself.
When Teal'c addresses the Council to convince them
not to follow the Ori, Gerak enters and declares that
it is the destiny of all Jaffa to follow... Origin! However, after Gerak's change of heart (
apostasy, in the eyes of the Ori), the Jaffa now stand firm against the Ori.
After the death of Gerak, Teal'c, Bra'tac, and their supporters in the Jaffa High Council were able to change the government of the Jaffa Nation and form a democracy.
