UNIQUE TRADITIONS OF THE BAKIGA CULTURE

With nearly everyone traveling to Uganda each year mainly to explore its breathtaking sceneries, wildlife and due to exceptional hospitality of its people, a visit to one of the local communities on African cultural safari rewards travel endeavors with unique cultures and traditions that you may not find anywhere else. When it comes to cultural experiences in Uganda, each cultural/tribal group features its own unique cultural and traditional traits and so are the Bakiga. About 56 different tribes are widely distributed in various parts of Uganda and each of them features their own rare culture, beliefs and traditions. This makes this beautiful landlocked country a true melting pot of cultures. While some of the ancient customs have disappeared due to modernity and western influence, others still remain strong and respected. The Bakiga are among a few tribes that still respect their traditional and cultural practices that today this particular part of Uganda remains vibrant when it comes to cultural safaris and tours. 

BAKIGA DANCE

Looking at the social organization, this tribal group lived in clans and the biggest of which was described as Basiga clan. Amazingly, each group was familiar with lineage and had a chief also called ‘Omukuru womuryango’ literally denoting to the head of the clan. While on gorilla safari in Bwindi National Park or Mgahinga National Park, count visiting the Bakiga community a must and you will be rewarded with unique and authentic cultural experiences. The one unique thing about the Bakiga is marriage! At a time, marriage played a significant role not only for the chieftain but also for the whole clan. To Bakiga people, no one would get married unless the man had cleared the bride wealth for his wife. The parents were eligible to get the dowry and usually includes cows, goats, tools for digging and many more. The amount to be paid varied from family to family and local custom. The tradition afterwards spread nationwide and every man had to pay a dowry for his bride. Other tribal groups never had cows and goats but this was replaced with money. The payment was to be effected prior wedding time.

A portion of the bride wealth was given to close relatives for instance uncles, paternal aunts. There was a belief that in case any of them became sad, he or she would cause the bride barren by cursing the daughter with all kinds of ill wrath of the spirits of the ancestors. Other essential things in Bakiga marriage include purity and virginity. In case the unmarried girl became pregnant, she could be taken to the forest tied to a tree and left at the mercy of wild animals. The other alternative was to throw her over a cliff and Kisizi waterfalls served this purpose. For the migrating tribes/nomads who are not in position to pay dowry for the bride could sometimes rescue girls left to die and make them their wives. The girl could be excommunicated from their family and even never to return. These practices have however ended recently and those who become pregnant today with no husband still face different kinds of social sanctions within their communities. At a time, no family planning was put in place and that the Bakiga women were very fertile. Most of them gave birth between 7 and 8 children unlike today where people have been sensitized to practice family planning.

 

When it comes to celebrations, most clan elders could meet together at a fire place where they could be drinking-Omuramba-a local brew. This played a big role especially when it comes to uniting people. They could gather around the pot of Omuramba with their long straws at a fire place and discuss different significant issues concerning their communities. It was at a time that they could settle down disputes, teach children various aspects about life, storytelling about their heroic deeds, sing and dance around the fire. The dance is locally known as ‘Ekizino’ and this was mainly a royal dance from the Bakiga people. While on the dance, people could stomp the ground till they found signs of water. In other words, it is such a vigorous dance that includes jumping and stomping thus demonstrating some kind of stamina and strength. Women equally get involved in this vigorous dance with more display of their arms. The dance usually comes with much happiness and of current, the Bakiga gather for happiness. Recently, thousands of Bakiga plus many other tribes gathered at Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) showgrounds for Bakiga Nation’s Rukundo Egumeho 6^th edition. The event that attracted thousands of revelers took place on 9^th December 2018. The Bakiga Nation is a cultural organization that is aimed at celebrating the Kiga culture in a holistic all-inclusive approach to display, appreciate and celebrate the Kiga culture in all its glory

Conclusively, what makes the people different is culture and traditions. There is a lot to learn from each tribe in Uganda and while on gorilla safari, visiting the Bakiga community for cultural encounter should be a must thing to do for you this coming season.