Uganda-districts
Map of Uganda and its districts

The African country of Uganda has a number of traditional folktales and other folklore, which convey meanings and lived experiences from generation to generation.[1] Traditionally, folktales instilled discipline and good behaviour that shaped societal beliefs and acceptable norms within Ugandan society.[2]

Northern Uganda

Folktales from Northern Uganda have been studied by institutions like Kyambogo University and Makerere University.[3] Folklore from Northern Uganda includes the story of Mighty Angwech,[4] the Hare's Marriage, and The Shoe-Maker and the Monkey.[5]

Eastern Uganda

Within the Teso community of Eastern Uganda, there lies a great folktale of Oduk; the conqueror, he led the Teso people all the way from South Sudan to Uganda (Eastern Uganda) and finally to western Kenya.[6]

In the Gisu tribe, male circumcision also known as Imbalu is a famous annual ceremony that retells the Bugisu story of boys transiting into being men.[7]

Western Uganda

In Western Uganda, folktales can be found among the Bunyoro, Banyankole, Bachiga,[8] and other groups. In Bunyoro for instance, an epic story is told of the Batembuzi who founded Bunyoro Kingdom. During this time, they believed in mythical gods and there existed the heavens and the underworld or the earth. The heaven was led by Ruhanga and the underworld or earth ruled by an outcast thrown from heaven.[9]

Central Uganda

In Buganda, Nambi and Kintu folktales tell a remarkable story where long ago, Kintu was the only man in Uganda and had one cow.[10] Up in the sky existed a kingdom whose king was named Ggulu. He had handsome sons and beautiful daughters who loved watching the rainbow. one day, Ggulus sons called their sister Nambi to join them to play at the rainbow foot. Little did they know, the part the rainbow touched was Uganda. Frightened as they were, Nambi and her brothers had never seen a man. Nambi with her kind heart promised to come back and marry Kintu so he can never be lonely again.[10] Still in Buganda, other folktales of wisdom include the story of Walukaga the blacksmith, Mpobe the hunter, and Kasanke the little red bird.[10][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Uganda: Lango Culture – Old is Gold (Fr. Lawrence ogwang) – Comboni Missionaries". Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  2. ↑ "Recording Uganda's cultural folktales". Monitor. 2021-01-05. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  3. ↑ Auma, Lydia (December 2020). The elements of the natural landscape portrayed in langi folktales from the lango people of Notthern Uganda (Thesis thesis). Makerere University.
  4. ↑ "Tales of legends from Ugandan folklore compiled for young readers". The East African. 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  5. ↑ "Fifteen Lango Folk Tales". araoameny.com. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  6. ↑ "Oduk: The Conqueror (Teso community) - Shujaa Stories". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  7. ↑ "legend of bagisu | Africa Safari Guide". Bwindi Forest National Park. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  8. ↑ Komushana, Milliam (2021-05-25). The theme of laziness in selected folk tales of Bakiga of South Western Uganda (Thesis thesis). Makerere University.
  9. ↑ "Ugandan Folk tales". Uganda Heritage Tales and Trails. 2013-07-04. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  10. 1 2 3 "The King of the Snakes". digital.library.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  11. ↑ "Tales From Uganda". Tales From Uganda. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
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