Cultural dance: Celebrating unity in diversity
UGANDAN music is intertwined in poetry, ritual or dance. It is through music that people express their history and culture. All rituals are performed with dances. Dances are age-old traditions, handed down from generation to generation.
UGANDAN music is intertwined in poetry, ritual or dance. It is through music that people express their history and culture. All rituals are performed with dances. Dances are age-old traditions, handed down from generation to generation. Conan Businge brings you the different dances performed by different tribes at the Unity Diversity festival at Shimon grounds
Baganda
The Baganda from central Uganda are known for their Baakisimba, Nankasa, Muwogola and Amaggunju dances.
The Bakisimba, Nankasa and Muwogola dances originated from the king’s palace.
It is said that a former Buganda King (Kabaka) greatly enjoyed local brew (tonto) which is made from bananas. During one of the kingdom functions, the king got so drunk that he started applauding banana farmers for growing the beautiful plant used in the making of tonto.
He sang: “Abaakisiimba..., (banana planters) Be baakiwoomya..., (they made it delicious)â€.
Musicians at the time created Abaakisiimba rhythm, imitating the king’s words. As the musicians mimicked the king’s words on their drums, the women imitated the king’s movements.
This eventually became a dance which is now performed throughout Buganda.
Amaggunju is another folk dance which is also believed to have originated in the palace. It is said king Mulondo, who ruled Buganda from 1582 to the late 16th Century, died without leaving an heir.
Fortunately, he left behind many pregnant women. The medicine men at the time searched for a wife who was expecting a baby boy, to take over the throne, meaning, the unborn baby was ruling Buganda from the womb.
When the king was born, he was named Jjemba. But according to Buganda customs, kings are not supposed to cry. So the relatives invented the Amaggunju dance to keep the baby king smiling. Originally, Amaggunju was only performed by people of the Obutiko (mushroom) clan in the palace, but currently, they are perform at all functions
Buganda and its people
Buganda is the largest kingdom in Uganda, with three million people, who make up 16.7% of the population. Buganda’s boundaries are marked by Lake Victoria in the south, the Victoria Nile in the east and Lake Kyoga in the north. The Baganda speak Luganda.
Basoga
Nalufuka dance
Nalufuka is a dance from Busoga region, which demonstrates unity.
Legend has it that there were two great friends in Busoga, who used to share almost everything.
However, one day, they went out for a drink and disagreed on sharing a gourd. This culminated into a fight. The communities realised that it was very bad for friends to quarrel and Nalufuka dance was developed to unite the antagonised friends.
Basoga’s culture
Busoga kingdom comprise Kamuli, Iganga, Bugiri, Mayuge and Jinja districts. Jinja Municipal Council is the heart of Jinja and the industrial hub of Busoga.
Basoga are a peace-loving people, who traditionally lived in small homesteads, comprising the father, mother, children and extended family.
In villages, the majority of people were agriculturalists, growing food and cash crops.
Acholi
Larakaraka
The Acholi are known for their Larakaraka dance, which is a courtship dance. According to Kinobe Heart Beat’s website, the Larakaraka is performed during marriage ceremonies.
In Acholi, when the youth are ready for marriage, they organise a ceremony, where lots of drinks and eats are served. After the meal, everyone gets to the dance floor. Only the best dancers get partners for marriage, so there is a lot of competition.
Bwola
This is a royal dance from Acholi performed by elders to entertain the king (Lwot).
The people
Acholi is an ethnic group from Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts in northern Uganda. They are said to have come from Bahr-el-Ghazal in southern Sudan.
Starting in the late 17th century, a new socio-political order developed among the Luo of northern Uganda, mainly characterised by the formation of chiefdoms headed by Rwodi.
Bunyoro
By the mid-nineteenth century, about 60 small chiefdoms existed in eastern Acholiland. During the second half of the 19th Century Arabic-speaking traders from the north started to call them Shooli, a term which transformed into “Acholi.â€
Runyege/Entogoro
This is a ceremonial dance from Bunyoro and Toro kingdoms. It is also a courtship dance performed by the youth when it is time for them to choose partners for marriage.
The female must choose the best male dancer. In this culture, being able to dance means the man is strong enough to look after his family. In Africa, parents do not want to give their girls to weak men.
In this dance, whoever dances last on the stage is considered the victor, therefore, many girls get disappointed when the men they admire fail to dance to the last minute.
The kingdom
The kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara was created when the ancient Empire of Kitara fell apart during the 16th Century. The current ruler is Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I, who is the 27th Omukama (king) of Bunyoro-Kitara.
Bunyoro-Kitara controlled almost the entire region between Lake Victoria, Lake Edward and Lake Albert.
Bunyoro rose to fame through salt trade and metal works.
In 1894, Great Britain declared the region its protectorate, but Omukama Kabalega resisted Britain’s move by forming an alliance with Buganda.
However, Kabalega was captured and exiled to the Seychelles in 1899 and Bunyoro was annexed to the British Empire. Because of their resistance, a portion of the Bunyoro kingdom’s territory was given to Buganda and Toro.
BAGISU,/b.
The Bamasaaba or Bagisu people, who live in eastern Uganda, are famous for their traditional male circumcision ceremonies. The Bagisu believe that for a young boy to become a man, he must be circumcised in a ceremony that is reflected in the Mwaga dance.
Before initiation, the boy must dance for 21 days. No man can be allowed to marry a Mugisu girl, if he is not circumcised.
A combination of sounds, including bells attached to the candidates, fiddles, flutes and group songs, make the circumcision season memorable.
The person to undergo circumcision dances to the music, accompanied by relatives and friends across villages. The candidate is decorated with skins and given two black and white colobus monkey tails, which he uses to wave to the public.
As a sign of bravery, the candidate is expected to stand silently through the circumcision.
The people
The Bagisu, who are also referred to as Gisu, Gishu, Masaaba, or Sokwia, are closely related to the Bukusu people of Kenya. They mainly live in Mbale District on the slopes of Mt. Elgon. They speak Lugisu.
Baganda
The Baganda from central Uganda are known for their Baakisimba, Nankasa, Muwogola and Amaggunju dances.
The Bakisimba, Nankasa and Muwogola dances originated from the king’s palace.
It is said that a former Buganda King (Kabaka) greatly enjoyed local brew (tonto) which is made from bananas. During one of the kingdom functions, the king got so drunk that he started applauding banana farmers for growing the beautiful plant used in the making of tonto.
He sang: “Abaakisiimba..., (banana planters) Be baakiwoomya..., (they made it delicious)â€.
Musicians at the time created Abaakisiimba rhythm, imitating the king’s words. As the musicians mimicked the king’s words on their drums, the women imitated the king’s movements.
This eventually became a dance which is now performed throughout Buganda.
Amaggunju is another folk dance which is also believed to have originated in the palace. It is said king Mulondo, who ruled Buganda from 1582 to the late 16th Century, died without leaving an heir.
Fortunately, he left behind many pregnant women. The medicine men at the time searched for a wife who was expecting a baby boy, to take over the throne, meaning, the unborn baby was ruling Buganda from the womb.
When the king was born, he was named Jjemba. But according to Buganda customs, kings are not supposed to cry. So the relatives invented the Amaggunju dance to keep the baby king smiling. Originally, Amaggunju was only performed by people of the Obutiko (mushroom) clan in the palace, but currently, they are perform at all functions
Buganda and its people
Buganda is the largest kingdom in Uganda, with three million people, who make up 16.7% of the population. Buganda’s boundaries are marked by Lake Victoria in the south, the Victoria Nile in the east and Lake Kyoga in the north. The Baganda speak Luganda.
Basoga
Nalufuka dance
Nalufuka is a dance from Busoga region, which demonstrates unity.
Legend has it that there were two great friends in Busoga, who used to share almost everything.
However, one day, they went out for a drink and disagreed on sharing a gourd. This culminated into a fight. The communities realised that it was very bad for friends to quarrel and Nalufuka dance was developed to unite the antagonised friends.
Basoga’s culture
Busoga kingdom comprise Kamuli, Iganga, Bugiri, Mayuge and Jinja districts. Jinja Municipal Council is the heart of Jinja and the industrial hub of Busoga.
Basoga are a peace-loving people, who traditionally lived in small homesteads, comprising the father, mother, children and extended family.
In villages, the majority of people were agriculturalists, growing food and cash crops.
Acholi
Larakaraka
The Acholi are known for their Larakaraka dance, which is a courtship dance. According to Kinobe Heart Beat’s website, the Larakaraka is performed during marriage ceremonies.
In Acholi, when the youth are ready for marriage, they organise a ceremony, where lots of drinks and eats are served. After the meal, everyone gets to the dance floor. Only the best dancers get partners for marriage, so there is a lot of competition.
Bwola
This is a royal dance from Acholi performed by elders to entertain the king (Lwot).
The people
Acholi is an ethnic group from Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts in northern Uganda. They are said to have come from Bahr-el-Ghazal in southern Sudan.
Starting in the late 17th century, a new socio-political order developed among the Luo of northern Uganda, mainly characterised by the formation of chiefdoms headed by Rwodi.
Bunyoro
By the mid-nineteenth century, about 60 small chiefdoms existed in eastern Acholiland. During the second half of the 19th Century Arabic-speaking traders from the north started to call them Shooli, a term which transformed into “Acholi.â€
Runyege/Entogoro
This is a ceremonial dance from Bunyoro and Toro kingdoms. It is also a courtship dance performed by the youth when it is time for them to choose partners for marriage.
The female must choose the best male dancer. In this culture, being able to dance means the man is strong enough to look after his family. In Africa, parents do not want to give their girls to weak men.
In this dance, whoever dances last on the stage is considered the victor, therefore, many girls get disappointed when the men they admire fail to dance to the last minute.
The kingdom
The kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara was created when the ancient Empire of Kitara fell apart during the 16th Century. The current ruler is Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I, who is the 27th Omukama (king) of Bunyoro-Kitara.
Bunyoro-Kitara controlled almost the entire region between Lake Victoria, Lake Edward and Lake Albert.
Bunyoro rose to fame through salt trade and metal works.
In 1894, Great Britain declared the region its protectorate, but Omukama Kabalega resisted Britain’s move by forming an alliance with Buganda.
However, Kabalega was captured and exiled to the Seychelles in 1899 and Bunyoro was annexed to the British Empire. Because of their resistance, a portion of the Bunyoro kingdom’s territory was given to Buganda and Toro.
BAGISU,/b.
The Bamasaaba or Bagisu people, who live in eastern Uganda, are famous for their traditional male circumcision ceremonies. The Bagisu believe that for a young boy to become a man, he must be circumcised in a ceremony that is reflected in the Mwaga dance.
Before initiation, the boy must dance for 21 days. No man can be allowed to marry a Mugisu girl, if he is not circumcised.
A combination of sounds, including bells attached to the candidates, fiddles, flutes and group songs, make the circumcision season memorable.
The person to undergo circumcision dances to the music, accompanied by relatives and friends across villages. The candidate is decorated with skins and given two black and white colobus monkey tails, which he uses to wave to the public.
As a sign of bravery, the candidate is expected to stand silently through the circumcision.
The people
The Bagisu, who are also referred to as Gisu, Gishu, Masaaba, or Sokwia, are closely related to the Bukusu people of Kenya. They mainly live in Mbale District on the slopes of Mt. Elgon. They speak Lugisu.