Culture of Uganda

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Culture of Uganda is made up of a diverse range of ethnic groups. Lake Kyoga forms the northern boundary for the Bantu-speaking people, who dominate much of East, Central, and Southern Africa. In Uganda, they include the Baganda and several other tribes [1]

Contents

The Baganda are the largest single ethnic group in Uganda. They occupy the central part of Uganda which was formerly the Buganda Province. They are found in the present districts of Kampala, Mpigi, Mukono, Masaka, Kalangala, Kiboga, Rakai, Mubende, Luwero, Wakiso, Ssembabule, and Buikwe. They are a Bantu-speaking people and their language is called Luganda. [2]

In the north, the Lango and the Acholi peoples predominate, who speak Nilotic languages. To the east are the Iteso and Karamojong, who speak a Nilotic language, whereas the Gishu are part of the Bantu and live mainly on the slopes of Mt. Elgon. They speak Lumasaba, which is closely related to the Luhya of Kenya. A few Pygmies live isolated in the rainforests of western Uganda. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Traditional culture

Ugandan traditions include folk music, dances, foods, clothing, and building styles, among others. [8]

In Northern Uganda, particularly the Lango sub-region, a healing ritual called child-cleansing ceremony is conducted to restore the lost manhood of a child. In this ceremony, both the child and mother spend 3 days in a grass thatched house. Traditionally, they are tasked to drink sweetened millet porridge. As the 3 days elapse, both the mother and child sit at the door entrance with a company of paternal brothers. [9] This is believed to restore the lost manhood after the healing ritual is performed. The Acholi people and Lango people have their unique dances, such as Larakaraka and Bwola for Acholi, and Okeme/Abuda for Lango people. [9] [10]

In Western Uganda, there is the Empaako naming system where the indigenous communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Banyabindi, and Batagwenda identify traditional names that match different seasons, times, and clans, among others. Other traditions include dances, namely Entogoro and Ekitagururo, performed by traditional dancers. [11] [12]

Eastern Uganda has traditional practices such as the Imbalu circumcision ceremony from the Gisu people in the Mbale District, and Karamoja herders who traditionally move to many places in search of water and pasture for their animals. [13] Central Uganda is known for traditional dances such as Bakisimba, Nankasa, and Muwogola, which are inspired by their daily life. [14] [15]

Religion

A church in Entebbe, Uganda Bugonga Church of Uganda.jpg
A church in Entebbe, Uganda

Christians make up 85.2 percent of Uganda's population. There were sizeable numbers of Sikhs and Hindus in the country until Asians were expelled in 1972 by Idi Amin, following an alleged dream, although many are now returning following an invitation from President Yoweri Museveni. Muslims make up 12 percent of Uganda's population. [16]

Sport

Young boys playing a casual game of football (soccer) in Arua District. Football in full swing (501839950).jpg
Young boys playing a casual game of football (soccer) in Arua District.

Football is the national sport in Uganda. The Uganda national football team, nicknamed "The Cranes" is controlled by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations. They have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals. Their best finish in the African Cup of Nations was second in 1978.

In cricket, Uganda was part of the East Africa team that qualified for the Cricket World Cup in 1975.

There is also a national basketball league played by some professional players as well as college students and a few high school students. [17] [18] Uganda hosted a regional tournament in 2006, [19] which its national team, nicknamed The Silverbacks, [20] won.

Rugby union is also a growing sport in Uganda, and the Uganda national rugby union team has been growing stronger as evidenced by more frequent victories and close games against African powerhouses like Namibia and Morocco. [21]

At multi-sport events, Uganda has enjoyed most of its success in athletics and boxing. Uganda has won seven medals at the Olympics and 39 at the Commonwealth Games, all in these two sports. Some of Uganda's most notable athletes include John Akii-Bua, who won Uganda's first Olympic gold in the 400 metres hurdles at the 1972 Munich Olympics, and Davis Kamoga, a bronze medalist in the 400 metres and the first Ugandan to win a medal at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics (winning a silver at the 1997 World Championships in Athens). Moses Ndiema Kipsiro was the bronze medalist in the 5,000 metres at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, and Stephen Kiprotich was the winner of the marathon at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2013 World Championships. Notable among female athletes include Dorcus Inzikuru, who was the first Ugandan to win a gold at the World Athletics Championships when she won the 3,000 metres steeplechase at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, before adding a gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Ayub Kalule was one of Uganda's most successful boxers, winning golds in the light welterweight category at the 1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships and the lightweight division at the 1974 Commonwealth Games before turning professional and becoming World Boxing Association light-middleweight world champion in 1979.

As of April 2021, Uganda has been one of four African members of the rapidly growing international federation for lacrosse. [22] For the first time, Uganda will feature a national team at the 2022 Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships. [23]

Language

Uganda is ethnologically diverse, with at least 40 languages in usage. Luganda is the most common language. English and Swahili are the official languages of Uganda, even though English is more popular. Swahili, the East African lingua franca, is not widespread as a language though it was made an official national language in September 2005. [24] Luganda, a language widespread in central Uganda, has been the official local language but education is conducted in English. [25]

Media

Clothing

In Uganda, the kanzu [26] is the national dress of men in the country. Women from central and eastern Uganda wear a dress with a sash tied around the waist and large exaggerated shoulders called a gomesi . [27] Women from the west and north-west drape a long cloth around their waists and shoulders called suuka. Women from the south-west wear a long baggy skirt and tie a short matching cloth across their shoulders c known as omushanana. Women also wear a floor-length dress called a busuti, which was introduced by the 19th-century missionaries.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adhola people</span> Ethnic group of Uganda

The Adhola people, also known as Jopadhola, are a Nilotic ethnic group of Luo peoples that live in Tororo District of Eastern Uganda and comprise about eight percent of the country's total population. They speak Dhopadhola,, which belongs to the Western Nilotic branch of the Nilotic language family. They are primarily pastoralists. The Jopadhola call their land Padhola which, according to historian Bethwell Ogot, is an elliptic form of "Pa Adhola" meaning the "place of Adhola", the founding father of the Jopadhola people. Officially, land of the Adhola is called Padhola, but the Baganda who misinterpret 'Widoma' – a Dhopadhola word for 'war cry' meaning 'You are in trouble' refer to the Jopadhola as "Badama". The social structure of the Jopadhola can be described as semi centralised because there is no traditional centralized government and its organization is limited to a clan called Nono. There are over 52 clans, each with cultural practices, common ancestry and a distinct lineage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buganda</span> Bantu kingdom in central Uganda

Buganda is a Bantu kingdom within Uganda. The kingdom of the Baganda people, Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day East Africa, consisting of Uganda's Central Region, including the Ugandan capital Kampala. The 14 million Baganda make up the largest Ugandan region, representing approximately 16% of Uganda's population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lango people</span> Ugandan ethnic group

The Lango are a Nilotic ethnic group. They live in north-central Uganda, in a region that covers the area formerly known as the Lango District until 1974, when it was split into the districts of Apac and Lira, and subsequently into several additional districts. The current Lango Region now includes the districts of Amolatar, Alebtong, Apac, Dokolo, Kole, Lira, Oyam, Otuke, and Kwania. The total population of Lango District is currently about 2,884,000.

The early history of Uganda comprises the history of Uganda before the territory that is today Uganda was made into a British protectorate at the end of the 19th century. Prior to this, the region was divided between several closely related kingdoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tooro Kingdom</span> Bantu kingdom in midwestern Uganda

The Tooro Kingdom, is a Bantu kingdom located within the borders of Uganda. The current Omukama of Tooro is King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV. King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV took to the throne of Tooro kingdom in 1995 at the age of just three years, after the death of his father Omukama Patrick David Matthew Kaboyo Rwamuhokya Olimi III on August 26, 1995, at the age of 50.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Languages of Uganda</span> Languages of the country and its peoples

In Uganda the most spoken language in the capital city is Luganda, followed by English, as all schools in Uganda use it in their studies due to the introduction of English during the colonial period. English is also the language of business and judicial matters. Most spoken after Luganda and English is Swahili. This language is more common in neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania. Swahili is taught in schools as an optional additional language and it is mostly spoken by the Ugandan army. In 2005, there were talks to include Swahili as the second official language as it was seen as neutral, however this is still not ratified by the government. Swahili is used among some communities bordering South Sudan and Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karamojong people</span> Nilotic ethnic group native to northeastern Uganda

The Karamojong or Karimojong are a Nilotic ethnic group. They are agro-pastoral herders living mainly in the north-east of Uganda. Their language is also known as ngaKarimojong and is part of the Nilotic language family. Their population is estimated at 475,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uganda Museum</span> Museum in Kampala, Uganda

The Uganda Museum is located in Kampala, Uganda. It displays and exhibits ethnological, natural-historical and traditional life collections of Uganda's cultural heritage. It was founded in 1908, after Governor George Wilson called for "all articles of interest" on Uganda to be procured. Among the collections in the Uganda Museum are playable musical instruments, hunting equipment, weaponry, archaeology and entomology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baganda</span> Bantu native to Buganda, Uganda

The Baganda also called Waganda, are a Bantu ethnic group native to Buganda, a subnational kingdom within Uganda. Traditionally composed of 52 clans, the Baganda are the largest people of the Bantu ethnic group in Uganda, comprising 16.5 percent of the population at the time of the 2014 census.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jie (Uganda)</span> Ethnic group of Uganda

The Jie are an ethnic group in Uganda. They belong to the Karamojong Cluster, which also includes the Karamojong and Dodoth people. Their country in northeast Uganda lies between the Dodoth to the north and the Karamojong to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tooro people</span> Bantu ethnic group in Uganda

The Tooro people, also known as Batooro or Toro people are a Bantu ethnic group, native to the Tooro Kingdom, a subnational constitutional monarchy within Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acholi people</span> Ethnic group of South Sudan and Northern Uganda

The Acholi people are a Nilotic ethnic group of Luo peoples, found in Magwi County in South Sudan and Northern Uganda, including the districts of Agago, Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, Nwoya, Lamwo, Pader and Omoro District. The Acholi were estimated to number 2.3 million people and over 45,000 more were living in South Sudan in 2000.

Entogoro, also known as Orunyege, is a traditional courtship dance that is performed by the Batooro people of western Uganda. The dance holds great significance in the Tooro culture, practiced by young adults to select potential partners for marriage, as well as during weddings, initiation ceremonies, and social gatherings. Its name comes from the ebinyege rattles and entogoro rings associated with the dance.

Empaako, also known as pet names or praise names, is a practice of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda, and Banyabindi peoples of Uganda by which children are given a name. They were introduced after the Biito clan conquered the Empire of Kitara, and are nowadays used as a respectful and endearing way to refer to someone in conversation, separate from individual given names and surnames.

Bakisimba dance (Baakisiimba) also known as Nankasa or Muwogola is a traditional dance form originating from the Baganda people of Buganda Kingdom in Central Uganda. It is believed to have originated from the movements of a drunken King Ssuuna of Buganda Kingdom. The dance was initially performed in the Buganda Royal Court in ancient times an it holds significant cultural and social importance within the community and is often performed during tribal ceremonies, celebrations, and festive occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So (Tepeth)</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bakenyi</span>

Bakenyi tribe are a Bantu speaking ethnic group of people Uganda. they are believed to have migrated from Buganda central region eastwards to settle in the eastern parts of Uganda around Lake Kyoga basin in the Buyende district. The Bakenyi tribe speak the language called "Lukenyi".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ugandan Callabash</span> Plant locally grown in Uganda

Calabash is a traditional plant locally grown in many parts of Uganda. Its a non-food plant that produces several fruits of different sizes. The biological name of this plant is Lagenaria siceraria. Once harvested, its left to dry and is mainly used for traditional purpurses like dancing during traditional weddings, crafted as musical instruments by some tribes in their traditional dances for example the Bigwala, Baganda, Acholi, preserving milk, harvesting milk cream, and also used by traditional healers. Calabash is a symbolic cultural item that many Ugandan tribes use for different purposes.

References

  1. ↑ "Culture in Uganda | Culture of Uganda". Prime Uganda Safaris & Tours. 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  2. ↑ People and Cultures of Uganda. Kampala, Uganda: Fountain Publishers. 2011. p. 14. ISBN   978-9970-25-034-9.
  3. ↑ "Ugandan Culture - Rich and Diverse - Multi-Cultural with History". Kabiza Wilderness Safaris. 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  4. ↑ T.P, O'Brien (1939). The prehistory of Uganda protectorate. Cambridge at the University press. pp. 1–64. ISBN   978-1-107-41915-5.
  5. ↑ Wayland, E. J.; Burkitt, M. C. (1932). "The Magosian Culture of Uganda". The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 62: 369–390. doi:10.2307/2843964. ISSN   0307-3114. JSTOR   2843964.
  6. ↑ Barlas, Robert (2010). Cultures of the world Uganda. Michelle Bisson. ISBN   978-0-7614-4859-4.
  7. ↑ O'Brien, T. P. (1936). "53. Notes on the Stone Age Cultures of Uganda". Man. 36: 41–44. doi:10.2307/2790731. ISSN   0025-1496. JSTOR   2790731.
  8. ↑ "Uganda - Culture, Traditions, Cuisine | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  9. 1 2 "UNESCO - Male-child cleansing ceremony of the Lango of central northern Uganda". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  10. ↑ "'Echoes of Lawino' brings two poems to theatre". The East African. 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  11. ↑ "UNESCO - Empaako tradition of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of western Uganda". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  12. ↑ "About The Culture In The Western Region Of Uganda - Tristar Africa Skimmer Safaris". www.tristarafricaskimmersafaris.com. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  13. ↑ "Uganda Cultural Tours Safaris | Facts, Culture & Traditions". 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  14. ↑ Makanga, Samuel (2018-01-26). "Baganda's Traditional Dances". Prime Uganda Safaris. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  15. ↑ "Cultural dance: Celebrating unity in diversity". New Vision. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  16. ↑ David A., Hoekema (2019). Religion and Culture in Uganda. pp. 99–118.
  17. ↑ Huston-Holm, Patty (2020-03-03). "Shorter-than-normal Ugandan basketball player uses 'brain' to excel". Uganda Christian University Partners. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  18. ↑ "The next generation of Uganda's basketball stars". New Vision. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  19. ↑ "People's Daily Online -- Uganda to host regional basketball championships". en.people.cn. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  20. ↑ Kaweru, Franklin, "Uganda’s Silverbacks ranked 89th in latest FIBA rankings" Archived 2015-10-12 at the Wayback Machine , KAWOWO Sports, 9 October 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  21. ↑ "Rugby union looks back to 2005 with a smile". New Vision. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  22. ↑ South African Lacrosse Becomes 69th Member Nation of World Lacrosse US Lacrosse Magazine, 15 April 2021. Accessed 20 April 2021.
  23. ↑ Record 23 lacrosse teams to play at Men's Under-21 World Championship Ali Iveson (Inside the Games), 30 May 2021. Accessed 9 June 2021.
  24. ↑ "Uganda", The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 2021-12-28, retrieved 2021-12-30
  25. ↑ IPP (Tanzania)
  26. ↑ Uganda (2017-10-23). "Traditional Ugandan Clothing & Attire". In Uganda. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  27. ↑ "Gomesi: Uganda's traditional women dress of 'respect' - TRT Afrika". Gomesi: Uganda's traditional women dress of 'respect'. Retrieved 2024-01-11.

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