Culture & Etiquette

1. Kabaka

   Kabaka (king of the Buganda kingdom)

   Usage

   The title of the king of the Buganda kingdom. The dictionary gives King = Kabaka, and lg.wikipedia describes it as the title of the kingdom's supreme leader. Buganda remains a traditional kingdom at the centre of cultural events

   Grammar Note

   The kingdom is obwakabaka (dictionary: kingdom = obwakabaka). Visitors are best advised to avoid commenting on the king or on politics.

2. Buganda

   Buganda (the traditional kingdom of the Baganda)

   Usage

   The traditional kingdom of the Ganda people in central Uganda, which includes Kampala. Luganda is the language of this kingdom. lg.wikipedia describes Buganda as a kingdom within Uganda

   Grammar Note

   On the stem -ganda the class prefixes give Buganda (country), Muganda (a person), Baganda (people), Oluganda (language) and Kiganda (adjective).

3. Nnaabagereka

   Nnaabagereka (the queen of Buganda)

   Usage

   The title of the wife of the Kabaka. lg.wikipedia says it was created in the twentieth century, that she speaks for human, women's and children's rights, and that she is called "Maama wa Buganda" (Mother of Buganda)

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary gives queen = Nnaabagereka. The lg.wikipedia title is Nnaabagereka (aa), though the text also has Nnabagereka.

4. Ekika

   Ekika (clan)

   Usage

   A clan in Ganda society. lg.wikipedia explains that every Muganda belongs to a clan (ekika), and every clan has its totem (omuziro). Clan names include Njovu (elephant), Mpologoma (lion) and Envuma

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary gives clan = ekika, ennono. The plural is ebika.

5. Buli kika kirina omuziro gwakyo

   Every clan has its own totem

   Usage

   Explains how Ganda clans relate to totems. A clan's totem is often a plant or animal that its members do not eat or harm

   Grammar Note

   After buli the augment is dropped, so ekika becomes kika. lg.wikipedia has "buli kika kirina omuziro gwakyo". The dictionary gives totem = omuziro, akabbiro.

6. Olubugo

   Olubugo (barkcloth)

   Usage

   The traditional cloth made by beating the bark of the mutuba tree. lg.wikipedia says it is still used for burials and royal ceremonial dress. The plural is embugo

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary gives barkcloth = olubugo; the maker is an omukomazi and the beating is okukomaga. The lg.wikipedia title is Olubugo.

7. Gomesi

   Gomesi (women's traditional dress)

   Usage

   A long dress tied at the waist with a sash (ekitambaala). lg.wikipedia calls it the cultural dress of Ganda women, worn especially at ceremonies and weddings. Also called busuuti

   Grammar Note

   The lg.wikipedia title is Gomesi, with the alternative names Busuuti and Bodingi. One account says the name comes from Caetano Gomes, the Indian tailor said to have designed it.

8. Ekkanzu

   Ekkanzu (men's long gown, "kanzu")

   Usage

   The long gown men wear at ceremonies and weddings. lg.wikipedia lists "Ekkanzu ne gomesi" together as Buganda's formal dress

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary gives gown = ekkanzu, plural amakanzu (lg.wikipedia). In English it is written kanzu.

9. Eŋŋoma

   Eŋŋoma (drum)

   Usage

   The general word for a drum. The kingdom's ceremonial drums are called Mujaguzo, which lg.wikipedia says represent the king's spiritual role

   Grammar Note

   The standard spelling doubles ŋ: eŋŋoma (9 lg.wikipedia hits). Plain-keyboard engoma is commoner (23 hits), so search for both. The dictionary gives drum = eŋŋoma.

10. Engalabi

    Engalabi (tall long drum)

    Usage

    A long drum used in central Africa, especially in Uganda. lg.wikipedia says it is also called Engoma ensajja (male drum) and is used by the Ganda, Nyankole and others

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary lists engalabi among its words for drum, and the lg.wikipedia title is also Engalabi.

11. Amadinda

    Amadinda (log xylophone)

    Usage

    A xylophone of Buganda court music. lg.wikipedia says each log gives a different note and several players strike it with mallets. A related instrument is the akadinda

    Grammar Note

    An ama- class noun; lg.wikipedia says each plank (akabaawo) is its own ddinda.

12. Ennanga

    Ennanga (harp)

    Usage

    The harp used to accompany songs in Ganda court music. The dictionary gives harp = ennanga, entongooli, endongo

    Grammar Note

    lg.wikipedia's "Omuziki gwa Baganda" lists amadinda, akadinda, ennanga and entongoli as court instruments. Playing it is okukuba ennanga (dictionary).

13. Adungu

    Adungu (bow harp of the Acholi and Alur)

    Usage

    A traditional instrument of the Acholi in the north and the Alur in the north-west. lg.wikipedia says it has six to ten or more strings. It is the northern counterpart of the Ganda ennanga

    Grammar Note

    The lg.wikipedia title is Adungu, with Endongo and Ennanga as other names. It is a name from the Acholi and Alur languages, not Luganda.

14. Bakisimba

    Bakisimba (a Ganda traditional dance)

    Usage

    A traditional Ganda dance. lg.wikipedia says it is also called Nankasa or Muwogola and is danced at clan events and celebrations. Its origin is traced to the time of King Ssuuna

    Grammar Note

    The lg.wikipedia title is "Amazina ga Bakisimba" (amazina = dances). The dictionary gives dance = okuzina.

15. Ekisaakaate

    Ekisaakaate (the Nnaabagereka's cultural programme for young people)

    Usage

    A programme started by the Nnaabagereka in 2007 in which children and young people learn Ganda culture, manners and crafts. lg.wikipedia says ekisaakaate originally means a royal enclosure (ekigo ky'obwakabaka), then a place of cultural training

    Grammar Note

    Per lg.wikipedia, the young participants are called abasaakaate.

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