The culture of Uganda is made up of a diverse range of ethnic groups. Lake Kyoga forms the northern boundary for the Bantu-speaking peoples, who dominate much of east, central and southern Africa. In Uganda they include the Baganda and several other tribes. In the north live the Lango and the Acholi, who speak Nilotic languages. To the east are the Iteso and Karamojong, who speak a Nilotic language. A few Pygmies live isolated in the rainforests of western Uganda.
Cultural Sites in Uganda.
Kasubi Tombs
Kasubi tombs are the traditional royal tombs of the kings of buganda.The tombs are situated 5km away from the Kampala city centre. This interesting site is where the dead kings of Buganda kingdom are buried. Buganda kingdom is in the central and southern part of Uganda.
The architecture of the tombs reflect the early civil architectural ingenuity which makes the site a popular tourist attraction for both locals and foreigners.
Uganda Museum
The museum is located in Kampala and was founded in 1908. It carries a display of Uganda’s cultural Heritage including ethnological and natural historical exhibitions. All cultural backgrounds in Uganda are represented, and the displays show the different developmental stages they have gone through. The museum holds approximately 3000 volumes of maps, periodical photographs and artifacts, sociology, travel and science pieces.
Bahai Temple
The temple also called Marsriqu l’-Adhukar, is located on Kikaya hill on Gayaza road about 4 miles from Kampala, and was built 40 years ago on nine big pillars. It belongs to the Bahai religious group, believed to have began by the messenger called Bha’u’llah born n Tehran Iran 1817-1892. The temple was opened to the public on 15th January 1962, and attracts many tourists since it’s the only one in Africa.
Namugongo Martyrs Shrine
Namugongo martyrs shrine is situated 12km to the North-East of Kampala. It commemorates the conspiracy and harrowing brutality that sums up the tale of 22 brave Christian Ugandan martyrs. These 22 Ugandan Roman Catholics were burnt alive in 1886 for refusing to denounce their faith.
Uganda martyrs is celebrated every 3rd of June and up to this day the martyrs are honored around the world for their faith and courage. The shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims every year to pay homage to the saints.
Fort Bigo Bya Mugyenyi
Bigo bya mugyenyi is believed 2 have been by the bacwezi and their related kingdoms. These unique earth works are the largest and most important of the several works built by the bacwezi .Bigo is thought to have been a fort built to protect the southern extreme of the Bacwezi kingdom.
The outer ditch and an inner royal enclosure built on a small hill make up the interesting two concentric sets of earthworks. locals regard this place as having supernatural powers.
The supernatural being of the bacwezi makes this part of the world interesting and worth visiting once in Uganda.
Kabaka’s administration palace and Lake
Bulange Mengo is the official palace of the Kabaka, Buganda’s King. It’s located on Nateete road off Rubaga road and is built with high walls, beautiful gardens and a large statue of King Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. It is where the king meets his council and it serves as an assembly and an administrative centre for Buganda. It’s the pride of Buganda and some of their occasions are held there.
Naggalabi coronation site Buddo
The site is located on Buddo hill a few kilometers from Kampala on Masaka road. It is here that the ‘Kabakas’ (kings of Buganda) have been crowned for the last 700 years. It is therefore an important site in Buganda culture. The Kabakas are crowned on this hill because it’s believed that the first Muganda thus first Kabaka Kintu killed his brother Bemba on this hill. It is here that the current Kabaka king of Buganda kingdom Ronald Muwenda Mutebi was crowned on 31st July 1993.
Other cultural sites include;
Katereke Prison Ditch, Kabaka Kalema’s prison
Wamala tombs, sacred burial place of Kabaka Suuna II
Namasole Kanyange tombs, where queen mother of Kabaka Suuna II is buried
African cultural galleries and Art and carft exhibitions, e.g National Theatre
Namirembe cathedral
Uganda has a population with different religious beliefs, some of which are international and others locals. Among the international are protestants from the Anglican church and the Roman Catholics.Uganda boasts of having the largest protestant church in East Africa and that is st.pauls cathedral Namirembe.
Music of Uganda
Each ethnic group has its musical history; songs are passed down from generation to generation. Ndigindi and entongoli(lyres), ennanga (harp), amadinda (xylophone, see Baganda Music) and lukeme (lamellophone ("thumb piano")) are commonly played instruments. An Acholi, Okot p'Bitek, is one of Uganda's most famous writers of folklore, satirical poems and songs. His book Song of Lawino (1966) describes the stories told in Acholi songs.
Religion
Christians make up 85.1% 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 the new president, Yoweri Museveni. There is quite a number of Muslims in Uganda.
Cuisine of Uganda
The Cuisine of Uganda consists of traditional cooking with English, Arab and Asian (especially Indian) influences. Like the cuisines of most countries, it varies in complexity, from the most basic, a starchy filler with a sauce of beans or meat, to several-course meals served in upper-class homes and high-end restaurants.
Main dishes are usually centred on a sauce or stew of groundnuts, beans or meat. The starch traditionally comes from maize meal or matoke (boiled and mashed green banana), in the South, or an ugali made from pearl millet in the North. Cassava, yam and African sweet potato are also eaten; the more affluent include white (often called "Irish") potato and rice in their diets. Soybean was promoted as a healthy food staple in the 1970s and this is also used, especially for breakfast. Chapati, an Asian flatbread, is also part of Ugandan cuisine.
Chicken, fish (usually fresh, but there is also a dried variety, reconstituted for stewing), beef, goat and mutton are all commonly eaten, although among the rural poor there would have to be a good reason for slaughtering a large animal such as a goat or a cow and nyama, (Swahili word for "meat") would not be eaten every day.
Various leafy greens are grown in Uganda. These may be boiled in the stews, or served as side dishes in fancier homes. Amaranth (dodo), nakati, and borr are examples of regional greens.
Ugali is cooked up into a thick porridge for breakfast. For main means, white flour is added to the saucepan and stirred into the ugali until the consistency is firm. It is then turned out onto a serving plate and cut into individual slices (or served onto individual plates in the kitchen).
Languages of Uganda
Uganda is ethnologically diverse, with at least forty languages in usage. Luganda is the most common language. English is the official language of Uganda, even though only a relatively small proportion of the population speaks it. Access to economic and political power is almost impossible without having mastered that language. The East African lingua franca Swahili is relatively widespread as a trade language and was made an official national language of Uganda in September 2005.[2] Luganda, a language widespread in central Uganda, has been the official vernacular language in education for central Uganda for a long time.[3]
Clothing
In Uganda, theKanzu is the national dress of men in the country. Women wear a dress with a sash tied around the waist called a Gomesi.
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