Unit time frame: 3 weeks
Introducing the Topic: History, basic vocabulary, and sources for more information
Before the eighteenth century, political power in Buganda was held by clan heads. Though clan leaders continued to be politically important, around 1750 political power became more centralized under the kabaka and new political institutions took shape. Each clan head became a member of the lukiiko, or the kabaka's council/parliament, and each clan became responsible for performing certain tasks for the kabaka--a tradition that continues today. While the kabaka and his cabinet no longer have much political power, he remains an important cultural symbol and still has control over much of the land in Kampala. The current kabaka is his majesty Ronald Mutebi II (1993-present), and his katikkiro is Charles Peter Mayiga.
For a list of current cabinet members and clan heads, visit: http://buganda.or.ug/
Basic vocabulary:
kabaka: king
katikkiro wa kabaka: prime minister of the king
lukiiko: parliament
abataka b'obusolya: clan heads
abamassaza: county chiefs
embiri za kabaka: the palaces of the king
Amasiro ga ba Ssekabaka: the tombs of the king
The founding of the Buganda Kingdom: Introductory Reading exercise
Below is a summary of the beginning of "Nambi and Kintu," the Ganda oral tradition about the founding of the Buganda kingdom. Read the story and then answer the reading questions that follow.
Olugero lwa Nambi ne Kintu
Edda nnyo waaliwo omusajja nga ye Kintu. Yali omu ku nsi. Yalina ente y’emu ng’omusulo gwayo gwanywa ate obusa bwayo nga ye mmereye.
Naye mu Lubaale nga waliyo Kabaka Ggulu ng’alina abaana bangi ab’obuwala n’abobulenzi. Naye lwali lumu abaana ba Ggulu ne bakkira ku Musoke, bwe baatuuka ku nsi ne balabako omuntu ng’alunda ente ye. Bo kwekwewunya nnyo! Omu ku bo, Nambi kwe kumutuukirira n’amubuza nti “lwaki ali bw’omu ku nsi era na biki by’alya ku nsi”.
Ko Kintu nti “Omusulo gw’ente yange gwe nnywa ate obusa bwayo ye mmere yange. Nambi n’awulira bubi n’ayagala asigale naye ng’atya. Kye yakola n’addayo sikulwa nga Musoke aggwa ku ggulu nga tanamweberekako. Naye yagenda ayiya engeri gy’ayinza okumuwonyaamu ennaku. Nambi lumu kwe kujja n’abba ente ya Kintu n’agitwala mu ggulu n’asirika. Kintu bwe yannoonya ente ye nga tagirabako kwe kulowooza nti osanga omuwala eyalinnye Musoke ku ggulu yeyagitutte. Kintu olwalaba ku Musoke ku ggulu namwebagala ekiwummulo mu lubiri ewa Ggulu. Bwe baamubuuza ky’ayagala ko ye nti “Anoonya ente ye”. Amangu ago nga bamukwata nga bamutwala ewa Kabaka Ggulu. Nambi naye olwawulira nga waliwo omuntu gwe baleeta kwe kudduka bunnambiro n’atuula kumpi ne kitaawe. Baba batuusa bati Kintu nga ne Nambi agaboolese.
Era ye yasooka ng’amwaniriza nnyo ng’agamba kitaawe nti “Taata ono omusajja gwe njagala okufumbirwa”. Ggulu n’atayagala muwala we afumbirwe musajja atalabika bulungi. Ate ne Kintu teyayongerako nti anoonya mukazi.
Munange bwe bwakeera enkya nga Ggulu awa Kintu ebigezo asobole okumulemesa muwala we.
Ddamu ebibuuzo bino:
1) Nambi ava wa? Taata y'ani?
2) Kintu yagenda ku gulu lwaki?
3) Kabaka gulu yaagamba ki?
4) Ggulu n'atayagala muwala we afumbirwe musajja lwaki?
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For the whole story of Kintu, see Mulira, Enoch E. K. Olugero Lwa Kintu. Kampala: East African Literature Bureau, 1951.
To learn more about the history of Buganda kings and the kingdom, check out the YouTube series “Ekitibwa Kya Buganda”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWUgDDg2YqM
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Weekly breakdown of sub-topics, readings, and assignments:
What you will need: Mulira, Enoch E. K. Olugero Lwa Kintu. Kampala: East African Literature Bureau, 1951.
Week 1: The founding of the Buganda Kingdom
Reading: Begin Olugero Lwa Kintu (The Story of Kintu)
Assignments: 1) Make a list and define the chapter themes listed at the beginning of each chapter. 2) Read for 30-45 minutes every other day. 3) Based on the information provided in the book, try to answer the following reading questions in English: What is the creation story of the Buganda Kingdom? What was the context? Who were the important actors? What did traditional political institutions look like? How did they work? 4) In Luganda, begin writing a short paper about Kintu, the formation of the Buganda kingdom, and traditional politics as if you were explaining the story to a child.
Activity: Explore the Buganda Kingdom website and listen to the Kabaka's royal musicians.
Week 2: Traditional Institutions and Political Offices
Reading: Continue Olugero Lwa Kintu.
Assignments: 1) Read 30-45 minutes every other day. 3) Create a new flashcard set on Quizlet with newly acquired political vocabulary and practice with flashcards for 15-30 minutes every other day (days you do not read). 2) Continue to work on paper.
Activity: Watch the first episode from the “Ekitibwa Kya Buganda” series on the history of Ganda Baakabaka (kings): “Empuku ya Ssekabaka Kimera.” Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWUgDDg2YqM
Week 3: Traditional politics in Buganda today
Reading: Finish Olugero Lwa Kintu.
Assignments: 1) Read 30-45 minutes every other day. 2) Practice with flashcards every other day (days you do not read). 3) Finish paper. 4) Learn about the traditional political institutions and offices that still exist today. What role do they play? What power do they have? Who is the Kabaka? What is the etiquette for meeting the kabaka? What are some of the political rituals still practiced? 5) Write a letter to Uganda host family and ask them about the kabaka and how they feel about him. Pay particular attention to the emotional vocabulary they use.
Activity: Watch the coronation ceremony of the current kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II (1993)