Day Two of STEKOM University Cultural Exchange Part 9 (Uganda Popular Traditions)

The international webinar "culture exchange" held by STEKOM University on the second day continues. Speakers from various universities around the world take turns giving interesting explanations about the popuper traditions of their respective countries. Various interesting things continue to be presented from various speakers who get the opportunity. The next interesting speaker was nabbaale hanifah who came from business-accounting and finance at Bugema University Kampala in Uganda. But before getting to know more about Uganda's popular culture, it's a good idea to get to know Bugema University Kampala in Uganda.


Bugema University (BMU) is a private, co-educational university in Uganda affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system, the second largest Christian school system in the world.


The university is situated on 640 acres (1.00 sq mi), in the sub-district of Kalagala, Bamunanika district, Luweero District in the Central Region of Uganda. The main campus is about 33 kilometers (21 miles), by road, northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city. It is about 18.1 kilometers (11 miles), by road, south of the city of Ziroobwe, on the Gayaza–Ziroobwe Road.


Hanifah's initial presentation explained the general condition of Uganda. In his explanation he mentioned below “Uganda is landlocked Borders with Kenya, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Rwanda. Uganda, now ranks third in Africa in terms of music and entertainment. Uganda is home to more than 65 different ethnic and tribal groups, and they form the basis of all of them.”


Next, Hanifah explained about the brief history of Uganda. The history of Uganda consists of the history of the people who inhabited the territory of present day Uganda before the founding of the republic of Uganda, and the history of the country after it was founded. Evidence from the Paleolithic era suggests that humans have inhabited Uganda for at least 50,000 years. Uganda's forests are gradually being cleared for agriculture by people who may speak Central Sudanese.


In 1894, Uganda became a protectorate of the British Empire, and in 1962 the British Empire granted independence to Uganda and established Sir Edward Muteesa Walugembe as the first President of Uganda and Kabaka. Then from Buganda. Idd Amin deposed Sir Apollo Milton Obote to become ruler of Uganda in 1971. The position he held for eight years until he was overthrown in 1979 as a result of the Uganda-Tanzania war. After another leader since the fall of Amin, President Yoweri Kaguta Museven Power in 1986 and has led Uganda to this day.


In the next presentation, Hanifah explained about the city of Mbarara. Mbarara City is a city in the Western Region of Uganda and the second largest city in Uganda after Kampala. The city is divided into 6 boroughs Kakoba Division, Kamukuzi Division, Nyamitanga Division, Biharwe Division, Kakiika Division, Nyakayojo Division. It is the main commercial center of most of Uganda's southwest districts and the location of the district headquarters. In May 2019, the Ugandan cabinet granted Mbarara city status, starting on 1 July 2020.


Demographics of the city in 2002, the national census estimated the city's population at 69,400. The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) estimated a population of 82,000 in 2010. In 2011, UBOS estimated a mid-year population of 83,700. In August 2014, the national population census put the population at 195,013.


The climate of the city is between the driest and wettest month, the difference in precipitation is 94 mm | 4 inches. Annual temperature variation around 2.4 °C | 4.3 °F. The month with the highest relative humidity is November (76.93%). The month with the lowest relative humidity was July (53.76%). The month with the highest number of rainy days is October (22.37 days). The month with the lowest number of rainy days is July (3.67 days). Mbarara is in the middle and summer is very easy to define.


Furthermore, Hanifah explained about the tribes and languages ​​in Uganda. Uganda has many different tribes of which the Baganda predominate at 16%, the Basoga at 5% and other tribes follow the Tribal language. The three main native language families are Auxiliary, Middle Sudanese, and Nilotic. Swahili and Luganda are also widely used. The main religions practiced by the people of Uganda are Christianity, Islam and others.


Next, Hanifah gave an explanation about general knowledge about pop culture and culture. According to him, culture is a knowledge system that is shared by a relatively large group of people. While pop culture is generally recognized by members of society as a set of practices, beliefs, and objects that are dominant or prevalent in society at a certain point in time.


Hanifah's next presentation was about music. The Baganda are the most musically vibrant tribe in the country, having defined what has shaped Ugandan culture and music over the past two centuries. Baganda music is folk music which is one of the most interesting and amazing musical genres in Uganda. This is the traditional music of the Baganda people. Most of them live in the central part of Uganda and they are the largest ethnic group. This traditional music is heavily based on various types of drums and percussion. In addition to the rhythmic parts, the Akadinda xylophone, Ennanga lute, Etongoli harp and Kadongo lamellophone are used in this type of folk music. The musical scale is almost pentatonic.


As for other music genres, there is Kidandali. Kidandali is a musical genre that is currently arguably the most popular genre in music in Uganda. Others have Dance floor, Hip Hop, Bible, Jazz, R&B.


Hanifah's explanation continued about dance in Uganda. Each tribe has outstanding traditional dances and songs that set it apart. There are dozens of interesting traditional dances that you can enjoy on a cultural safari in Uganda. Among them is the Agagwara Dance performed by the groove in northeastern Uganda. Then there is the Bakisimba Dance which is a traditional cultural dance performed by baganda from the central region of Uganda. Then there is the Bwola Dance, but unfortunately, Hanifah did not provide further explanation about this dance. Next is the Bwola Dance which is an interesting royal dance performed by the Acholi-Luo tribe in Northern Uganda and is always performed by less than fifty participants. In the past, this dance was performed to commemorate the coronation of a new King.


Next, Hanifah explained about the drama culture in Uganda. According to his explanation “The Ebonies” led the development of popular drama in this country. The drama production is done through their studio based in Kampala. The shows they put on have become icons in the country as they manage to deliver humorous performances about Ugandan family life and contemporary culture that people love.


Hanifah's last presentation explained about cinema in Uganda. The emerging film industry in Uganda is known as Ugawood or sometimes Kinauganda by locals. Viewers go to the video room where narrators called "video comedians" translate dialogue and add their own comments. Customers can also rent DVDs and watch feature films on prime-time TV. Leading people and companies in the Ugandan film industry include Jayant Maru, Mariam Ndagire, Wakaliwood. But most of the films are enjoyed in cinemas in Uganda.