Bigwala

Last updated
Bigwala
MediumMusic and dance
Originating culture Busoga
Bigwala, gourd trumpet music and dance of the Busoga Kingdom in Uganda
Country Uganda
DomainsPerforming arts (dance and music)
Reference 00749
Region Africa
Inscription history
Inscription2012 (7th session)
List Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Bigwala is a genre of ceremonial music and dance of the Busoga Kingdom in Uganda centered around gourd trumpets. [1]

Typically a solo trumpet is joined by four or more other trumpets, which produce a melody through playing in hocket, these are then joined by singers and then by dancers, both of which circle the instrumentalists while swaying. [1] [2]

Originally performed during royal celebrations such as coronations and funerals, and more recently during social occasions, but less frequently: "At present...there are only four remaining older master bearers with skills in Bigwala making, playing and dancing, and their recent transmission attempts have been frustrated by financial obstacles." [1]

The genre contributes to Busoga unity and identity, with lyrics primarily narrating the history of the Kingdom, focusing on the King himself (a symbol of Busoga identity), as well as addressing other social issues. [1] Godfrey Alibatya, who helped promote Bigwala to the UNESCO list, argues that, "the apparent extinction of Bigwala might contribute to the weakening of the kingship," and kingdom. [3] David Pier argues that Alibatya is helping preserve the genre despite its obscurity, unlike most items on the list, which are cherished by the local community. [4] [5]

Related Research Articles

<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">Berimbau</span> Type of musical bow from Brazil

The berimbau is a traditional Angolan musical bow that is commonly used in Brazil. It is also known as Sekitulege among the Baganda and Busoga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Uganda</span>

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

<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">Busoga</span> Traditional Bantu kingdom in present-day Uganda

Busoga is a kingdom and one of four constitutional monarchies in present-day Uganda. The kingdom is a cultural institution which promotes popular participation and unity among the people of the region through development programs to improve their standard of living.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Muloki</span> Inhebantu of Busoga

Alice Muloki was the Inhebantu of Busoga Kingdom in Uganda. She was the spouse of Henry Wako Muloki, the ruler of Busoga Kingdom, who was known as the Kyabazinga of Busoga.

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

The endingidi is a type of bowed string instrument native to Uganda. The endingidi has one string, extending from the neck to a cylindrical sound-box or resonator made of wood or cow horn. A piece of hide is stretched over the top of the cylinder and is fixed to the sound-box with wooden pegs, thorny spines or nowadays also with metal nails. The hide used is usually that of the monitor lizard but also of young goats and sheep or even of the python. The hide is soaked in water for a whole day before being stretched over the sound-box. The neck consists of a straight wooden stick inserted through the walls of the sound-box at about 2 to 3 cm from the top. At the top of the neck a hole is bored at 4 to 6 cm from the end into which a tuning pin is inserted vertically. The string is secured to this pin in such a way that the string can be wound round the pin in a similar way as with a violin. This allows the string to be tightened, so tuning the instrument. The string runs across the sound-box via a bridge and is fixed to the other end of the neck. The string is made of fibre or animal sinew, but nowadays it is more often of nylon. The arched bow consists of a thin flexible twig, to which a string is attached, usually of the same material as the string of the instrument itself. To give the bow more grip on the string of the instrument, resin is rubbed into the bow string. The resin is often attached to the side of the sound-box so the player can easily rub resin on the bow as he plays.

Kiira College Butiki (KCB) commonly referred to as Butiki, is an all-boys boarding public secondary school (high school) located in Jinja district, in the Eastern region of Uganda. The school is located on Butiki hill, in Namulesa trading center, along the Jinja-Kamuli Highway. It is approximately 14 kilometers (approx. 8.7 miles) from Jinja town. The school was named after River Nile (which is known as Kiira among the locals i.e. the Basoga people). The Nile River derives its source from Lake Victoria in Jinja, Uganda. The school motto is Discipline & Hardwork. The school was founded in 1959. As a public secondary school that is run by both. Unlike in developed countries like the US, the funds used to run public schools are from both the Government (through the Ministry of Education) and from private tuition agreed upon by school PTA committees of the respective school; a public-private interaction funding. Teacher salaries are mainly paid by the Ugandan Government. However, teachers also receive allowances from the tuition paid by the students.

Lugbara music refers to music performed in Lugbara. It can be a folk song, musical proverb or modern pop music. The general term for music in Lugbara is ongo.

<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.

Rachael Magoola is a Ugandan singer, songwriter, dancer, and politician. She is one of the members of Afrigo Band. In the 2021 general election she was elected to Parliament, as the women's representative in Bugweri District, for the National Resistance Movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Gabula</span> Kyabazinga of Busoga and Gabula of Bugabula

William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Gabula Nadiope IV, the Gabula of Bugabula, is the reigning Kyabazinga of Busoga, a constitutional kingdom in modern-day Uganda. He is the fourth Kyabazinga of Busoga.

The Busoga Masaza Cup is an annual football tournament in Uganda that was revived in 2016 by

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Igenge Palace</span> Building in Wayange hill, Uganda

Igenge Palace also known as Igenge Hill Palace is the official royal residence for the Kyabazinga of Busoga Kingdom in present-day Uganda.

A Busoga Royal Wedding is a wedding ceremony where the Kyabazinga of Busoga officially weds the Inhebantu of Busoga. It is a celebration for the entire Busoga Kingdom.

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

Orunyege-Ntogoro is a traditional dance from the Bunyoro and Tooro kingdoms in western Uganda. It is a courtship dance that involves the use of rattles (ebinyege) and rings (entogoro) to produce rhythmic sounds and movements. The dance is performed by young men and women who seek to attract and impress potential partners for marriage.

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.

Tamena Ibuga also known as the harvest celebration dance of the Basoga people, is a traditional dance originating from the kingdom of Busoga in eastern Uganda. This dance holds great significance as it represents the spirit of friendship and unity among the Basoga community. Typically performed during the harvest festival, Tamena Ibuga serves as a reminder and encouragement to the Basoga people to continue their diligent harvesting efforts. Through this exceptional dance, the Basoga people celebrate and honor the fruitful cultivation of their lands, acknowledging the bountiful harvest they have achieved.

Joseph Mutaka is a Ugandan sports journalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agwara (dance)</span> Dance of the Alur people of Uganda

Agwara is a royal dance of the Alur people of Northern Uganda, performed in the presence of the king (Rwot). It is performed by both women and men during social occasions. The dance is performed to drums, and uses linear and circular formations characterized by leg and waist twisting while wearing ankle bells to emphasize their footwork.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Bigwala", UNESCO.org.
  2. "Bigwala | Singing Wells" . Retrieved 2024-01-19.
  3. Pier , David G. (2015). "Marketing Ebigwala to UNESCO: Strategies and Outcomes", Ugandan Music in the Marketing Era: The Branded Arena. Springer. ISBN   9781137546975.
  4. Pier (2015).
  5. Jidovanu, Natalia (2019-03-29). "To Revive This Royal Music, Ugandans Had to Grow New Instruments". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2024-01-19.