Drums of Buganda Kingdom- Uganda

Kabaka of Buganda carried by the members of Mbugo clan

In the past of the ceremonies of the Baganda court were closely tied to the yourth of the large number of drums belonging to the kabaka. Each drum or Group of Drums was named and men where specifically appointed to take up residence at the Lubiri (the Baganda Palace) for the sole purpose of beating drums. 

The Kingdom of Buganda is situated in the Central region of the country known today as Uganda. It is right in the heart of Africa astride the Equator and in the North West shores of Lake Victoria and it’s also the source of the great river Nile. Buganda Kingdom is the home to the nation’s political and commercial capital city Kampala as well as the country’s main International airport Entebbe. There is a saying in Luganda that goes "Tezirwa ngumba" which means, they are not beaten without a reason .In modern times you are most likey to hear drums being played at traditional weddings, funurals, or occasions of celebration.
Although drums are frequently thought of as being merely musical instruments, they in fact have a wide range of uses. In the past there were literally hundrds of different beats for the drums and each rythm was known and had a definite meanining-for example a certain dance taking place a call to war,  a fire a larm, the news that acertain cheif was passing. As aperson hard the Drum, it was there duty to repeat the message so that within afew minite the message could pass over many mile.

Defferent drums at desplay

Traditionally, the drums belonged to the Kabaka and when he presented a cheif with a possition of office he bestowed upon him a Drum. This is why the playing of Drum was an important part of the ceremonies involved in the crowining of kabaka once he had 'tuned' the drum no one was else was allowed to play them.
Kigand (as Buganda calture is known) has drums of two kinds -the first is made of a hollowed block of wood, tappering towards the base, with skins stretched over the head and base. The skins are laced with thongs of hide. They are named according to there size and use, and the important one are also given names individually. the other types, seen more raely now days, is known has ngalabi and exists in value sizes. Always made of hollowed- out wood,it is long and slender, tappering gradually and then widening out again to form the base on which the drum stands. The top is covered with a skin-usually that of the type of water lizard-which is pegged on. The bottom of the drum is left open. These drums are particullary attractive and lage one may be as much as 140cm high.
The range of drums used in the past was enormouse-each was made sightly defferently of varying size with different decorations. Each type served a distinct purpose and was played a slightly defferent way, often by the specific clans. Examples include Nakawanguzi, which means the conqueror. This Drum was played when the kabaka had been Succeful in his attarcks on sorrounding tribes. The Kyejo was used when the Kabaka executed the trable makers as a worning to others. The makumbi warned poeple to cultivate banana gardens or risk to having there hand cut off. The va-mu-lugudo meaning get out of the way, was used when the wives of the kabaka where out working-No one was allowed to be on the road in front of them. so the drummer went a head to warn people to stand a side.

Drum sellers at Mpambire

Drums are also associated with chieftainships, with each cheaf having his drums bestowed with his office by the kabaka. The various clans of buganda also had there own drums and particular drum beats, selected drums where responsible for making, beating, mantainance and safe keeping of drums-different drums for each particular Drum types.
There is a splendid collection of Drums at the Uganda Museum in Kampala. Dum-making can be seen at Mpambire in the Mpanga forest reserve.