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The Story of Kintu and his three Sons

The Story of Kintu and his three Sons

 

The Founding of Bunyoro-Kitara

 

In the beginning, there was Ruhanga-God who created the earth. When he created the first man, there were no names, so he simply called him Kintu, which means “created thing or person”.

 

Kintu and his wife Kati had three sons but it was very confusing for them not to have names. They all shared the name ‘Kana’ (meaning little child) Whenever the father called one, they could all come and whenever he gave one child a present, they all quarreled declaring it was intended for them, So, he asked Ruhanga if they could be given names. Ruhanga agreed but he proposed two tests to help him select the boys names.

 

In the first test, the boys had to select some items that were placed along a path where they would find them.

 

In the second test, the boys had to keep bowls of milk on their lap during a night until morning.

 

For the first test, Potatoes, millet, leather thong/strap and a ox’s head were placed along the path, As the children walked, they found the things in the path, *the eldest son picked up the potatoes and millet, the second pick up the leather thong and the youngest, picked the ox’s head.

 

For the second test, they sat down on the ground, with their legs stretched out, each holding on his lap a full wooden milk pot. At midnight, *the youngest boy started to dosed and spilt half of his milk,* He greatly feared and turned to his brothers to beg them to give him their milk that his pot might be full, so the two brothers filled up their young brother milk pot leaving thier’s half empty. But at cock crow the eldest spilled all his milk, and when he asked his brothers to pour from their pots into his, they refused, saying that he would need so much to fill up the empty pot.

 

At dawn Ruhanga came and told each to uncover his milk pot. With the eldest, he found it empty; with the second, half full; while the youngest had his full.

 

So Ruhanga called Kintu that he had found the names for his three children.

 

The oldest son was named *Kairu, which means “little peasant”* for he had shown that he knew nothing about the value of cattle or milk. He had spilled all his milk, and he had chosen potatoes and millet from the items along the path. He and all his descendants would be farmers and servants.

 

The second he named Kahuma which means (little herdsman), This is because he had chosen the leather thong/stap, used for tying up cattle, and only half of his milk was missing

 

The youngest son had all his milk. And he had chosen the head of an ox in the first test. Ruhanga named *Kakama, which means “little King.”* A mukama is a ruler.

BACWEZI CLAN vs BACWEZI DYNASTY

BACWEZI CLAN vs BACWEZI DYNASTY

The bacwezi dynasty governed Kitara between early 1300 AD to mid 1400 AD, a period of about 100 years.

The Bacwezi dynasty descend from Isimba, who was son of *Isaza Nyakikooto Rugambanaabato* of the Bagabu clan and Nyamata(milky) of Ruyonga(aka Nyamiyonga) of the hamites.

Note: The hamites are belived to have arrived in Kitara around 1200 AD during the reign of Mukonko of kitara.

Its reported that the hamites with thier leader ruyonga(Nyamiyoga) wanted to form one Kingdom with Kitara hence the famous story of Isaza and Nyamiyonga

Isaza was the last Mutembuzi king of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom. The Batembuzi ruled the kingdom for an estimated 19 generations.

Isimbwa had seven wives, one of who produced *Ndahura kyarubumbi (lit: Ndahura son of a potter)*, who became the first Omukama (king) of Bacwezi dynasty.

The clan is believed to have started when Ndahura was trying to hide his identity from King Bukuku of Kitara which will be interrogated further on.

 

What is the meaning of bacwezi

 

There is a confusion between bacwezi the clan and bacwezi, the dynasty. According to the Isimbiwa genealogy, he married seven women from seven different clans that mothered nine important bacwezi, the other 2 bacwezi being fathered by his children Ndahura and Komya respectively

The seven (7) children fathered by Isimbwa from 7 different women

  1. He fathered Mugenyi from Nyangoma of the Basingo clan
  2. Ndahura Kyarumbumbi from Nyinamwiru of the Baranzi clan
  3. Kango Byonyabwe from Rugonya of the Basambo clans
  4. Mugarura from Koogere of the Bacwa clan
  5. Kyomya from Nyabiryo of the ??
  6. Mulindwa Nyabweliza Ngango from Nyakwahya of the Basiita clan
  7. Ibona from Waraga of the bacwezi clan

 

Note: In the above list, bacwezi clan is mentioned as one of the clans that Isimbwa marries from, that means the bacwezi as a clan existed before the bacwezi as a geanology, and history has it that when Ndahura was being interrogated by Bukuku to identify his clan, he simply said “Nyowe Ndi Wokwezi”(Am of the moon) in fear of being killed by King Bukuku, So its possible that Ndahura subsequently adopted the bacwezi clan, a clan of the mother of his half brother, from fear of Bukuku.

Its vividly recorded in the history of Bunyoro-kitara, that King Bukuku had a divination that one of his grandchildren would take over power from him, in fear of this, he kept his only daughter(Nyinamwiru) locked away from the eyes of men, he chopped of her breasts, removed her one eye and locked her up in one one the enclosures in the palace, when Nyinamwiru got pregnant, Bukuku was shocked, and in his exlamation he stated, “Ndahuura”(will i hear again), hence the baby was named Ndahura from this exclamation.

Bukuku ordered for the killing of baby Ndahura, which did not happen, one the potters found the child and hid him in the famous caves of Amabere Ga Nyina Mwiru(the breasts of Nyinamwiru)-the alkaline are breast shaped with dripping alkaline and are belived to have been the milk on which baby Ndahura fed on)

8 Ndahura fathered Wamara from Nyante of the Basengya clan, Wamara would become the last bacwezi ruler

  1. Kyomya fathered Nyarwa, Nsingoma-Rukidi, Kato-Kimera and Kiiza from Nyatworo of the Bakwonga clan, Kyomya also fathered Kagoro from a maid, Kacubya of the Basaigi clan

 

Note: History records indicate that Kagoro staged a coup that ended the bacwezi dyanasty rule.

 

Totem/Omuziro of the bacwezi

 

Primary Totem Ente Emira – cow which has drunk salt water.

Secondary Totem: Obusito – colostrum(Milk from a  cow and which has just given birth)

 

The Ente Emira Totem is believed to have been acquired when Omukama Wamara’s cow Bihogo bya Gaju got suffocated on salty water and died, this cow which revealed the end of the bacwezi rule became their totem.

The Obusito totem is belived to have been acquired when “Wamara’s blood brother relationship with Kantu had caused the milk to change into omutara(red milk)”, this blood brotherhood [bond of friendship] was loosened, after four days the cows began producing normal milk once more. From then onwards, the Bacwezi decided to avoid the obusito [milk that is from a cow that that has just given birth to calf before 4 days] totem.

Below are clans that Sub Clans of the Bacwezi Clan

  1. Abatwa
  2. Abatenzi
  3. Abasumba
  4. Abazaazi
  5. Abembwa(floppy-eared dog totem) – Buganda
  6. Banvuma(obusito totem/Creeper) – Buganda
  7. Mbogo(buffalo totem) – Buganda

 

     Sites associated with the bacwezi dynasty rule

 

  1. Karwata
  2. Kibengo
  3. Bijogolo
  4. Mubende hill, (capital of Omukama Ndahura)
  5. Masaka hill, situated on the northern bank of R. Katonga (capital of Omukama Wamara)
  6. Kagogo in Kibooga
  7. Ntusi
  8. Bigo
  9. Bwewemba
  10. Nyakahuma tree
  11. Burora hill, located in Buyaga county, near L. Mwitazinge (Mulindwa’s shrine)
  12. Rusiba hill, (centre for the cult of Kagoro)
  13. Kasonko

 

Notable Items/things introduced by the Bacwezi to Bunyoro-Kitara

 

Political

  1. Reed Palaces
  2. Regalia – Branding
  3. Superior army
  4. Superior iron making
  5. Abatimbo, royal drum players
  6. Moon Ceremonies lasting 9 days
  7. Reed Fenced royal enclosures
  8. Cattle and human sacrifices
  9. Beaded crowns/braces surmounted by tall copper cones
  10. Ceremonial herding and milk drinking

 

Economical

  1. Cattle breeding and Long horned cattle
  2. Copper spears
  3. Coffee cultivation, Kibaale forest in Bunyoro
  4. Back Cloth Manufacturing
  5. Iron working, earth works and fortifications

 

Social

  1. Superior dressing, back cloth, weaved cotton, cotton bandages
  2. Doctors, Treating smallpox, cesarean section and other diseases
  3. Cow hides sandals
  4. Grass thatched houses, cow dung floors, interior decorations (beads etc)
  5. Entertainment – Mweso(orusoro, Wrestling, Body massage)
  6. Brotherhood pack(Omukago)

 

We must say that the notable things introduced by the bacwezi rule where from the hamites whose great grand maternal parents (nyinenkuruza) was Nyamata of ruyonga/Nyamiyonga

 

Notable bacwezi leaders

 

  1. The most outstanding heroes of the period were Ndahura, Kagoro, and Kiro. Ndahura Kyarubimba, Rweshakara Myambi, Rumoona Mahanga, I, his praise names mean “he who thatches himself with thorns”, “attacker of nations,” was the first Cwezi King. When he first took over the kingdom it was in a disturbed and unsettled state. Several of the district (saza) chiefs had revolted against Bukuku and had refused to acknowledge him. Bukuku of the Baranzi clan, had been left in charge of the kingdom after Isaza Nyakikoto Rugambo n’Abato the last Mutembuzi king, had disappeared.

 

Among the many important things remembered about his reign is the first introduction to Bunyoro of a certain kind of coffee plant known as embyarwa. Today it is found in the forests of Pabidi in Budongo, Mabira in Kyaggwe, Kiijura and Kyabaranga in Toro, and as far south as Kiziba in north-west Tanzania.

Another important introduction was the type of cotton plant known as ewaro. Of the two new plants, coffee became more popular than cotton because cotton had fewer uses than coffee.

Ndahura is also remebered for leading successful campaigns to bring back the empire togther from chiefs who had rebelled during the reign of Bukuku.

Ndahura is remebered for ousting Ntege ya koya, he was accusing Ntege of cession tendencies, Ntege belonged to Ffumbe clan and had been appointed during the reign of Isaza, he was this replaced by Kyomya, Kyomya was made paramount chief of Muhwahwa(Buganda).

Ndahura went on several expeditions and one one of his expeditions in Ihangiro(karagwe), he got defeated and embarassed by the rule of Ihangiro called bwirebutakya(its recorded that he was made to do manual labor in gardens and eat like a commoner), so when he was freed from this expedition and returned to kitara, he abudicated his throne by telling his people that a defeated king in battle can not rule his people and the leadership went to his son Wamara.

 

  1. Kagoro, Kakyomya Mkuba Itera, Matambara Gatoosa Engangule ya Kacubya, was another of the great and brave Cwezi fighters; so much so that many people in Bunyoro still think that he did not die a natural death but flew up to the sky. He is therefore regarded as the god of lightning and thunder, and even today, whenever there is a lightning flash, many Banyoro say: ‘Gentle Araali, the lightning that strikes, your accidents are frequent.’ If someone is struck by the lightning and survives, people say that the Mucwezi god has had a quarrel with him.

 

  1. The third hero among the Bacwezi was Kiro Muhimba, who showed his powers during his father Ndahura’s reign. He was delegated to fight and subdue the rebellious people who lived to the north of the country. From there he continued to Bulega and went right round till he met with his father’s army towards the Toro side.

 

How/why the bacwezi lost power: Coup vs Prophecy

 

Some history books write that it’s Kagoro who staged a coup to end the bacwezi rule, yet another story points to divination

Coup

Kagoro was among the several sons of Kyomya who was bore by a maid called kacubya, and was a military commander appointed by Omukama Wamara.

Kitara faced lot of famine, followed by cattle diseases that lead to a great deal of dissatisfaction among the people of Kitara of the bacwezi. Kagoro, Wamara’s military commander, seized the opportunity to stage a coup against the Bacwezi, who were mercilessly massacred and their bodies thrown into water. The Bachwezi aristocracy, was thus annihilated or, as tradition put it, ‘disappeared’.

The coup marked the end of the Bacwezi Empire, but since kagoro was a half brother to Rukidi Mpuuga and his other brothers, we can assume the coup could have been the possible end of the bacwezi rule.

 

Prophecy

 

According to other court traditions, the last king of the bacwezi, Wamara was under the influence of the diviners; in one incident Wamara had a visitor, a one Kantu. Wamara instructed his wives to take good care of Kantu, but his wives did not do as instructed, Kantu got killed by an angry bull.

When the bull was slaughtered, they found that it did not have intestines, Wamara called on his diviners who failed to interpret the puzzle, a one diviner called Nyakoka from Bukidi (present northern Uganda) offered to solve the mystery.

Nyakoka cut open the legs and head of the animal and there the missing intestines were found. Then a large black smut from the fire settled on them, it could not be removed.

Nyakoka divined that the absence of the intestines from their natural place signified that the country would be left without rulers, because the rule of the Bacwezi had ended.

The intestines’ presence in the animal’s legs and head meant that the Bacwezi would load up their belongings and would travel far away; while the presence of the intestines in the head meant that the Bacwezi would continue to rule over men through spirit mediums (Mbandwa cults) and the *black smut meant that black men from a distant land* where going to take over the governship of kitara.

 

Why the bacwezi were/are worshipped?

 

It has to be noted that the bacwezi were not worshiped during thier rule, but when they left, they began to be worshipped, this is mainly because they had introduced divination(kubandwa) and sacrifices which continued when they left.

The worship part was partly introduced by the new babiito rulers as a way of commemorating and giving respect to their predecessors, The babiito recognized Wamara as thier guardian, this they did to cement their political and social positions in Kitara, From that time (15th Century), the “Wamara” cult acquired the largest number of followers.

In Bunyoro kitara kingdom there is saying of “abacwezi ikumi na mwenda abaramibwa* literally, there are nineteen bacwezi leaders worshipped.

List of the these 19 Bachwezi

 

  1. Ndahura Atwooki – The god of epidemics.
  2. Wamara Abooki ruled Bwera now called Budu and Nkole – The god of plenty.
  3. Kiro Muhimba ruled Bugahya, Bugungu and Chope
  4. Kyomya Amooti ruled Muhwahwa(Buganda)
  5. Ibona wa Waraga ruled Kyaka(Kitara)
  6. Mulindwa Abwooli ruled Buleega & Buyaga- The goddess who protected the royal clan.
  7. Rubanga ruled Buruli – God of health.
  8. Mugasa Ibebe ruled Sese Islands
  9. Kanyabugoma ruled Bugoma
  10. Kahuka ruled Tooro and Busogora
  11. Mugarra Karundi Adyeri ruled Bunyara
  12. Mugenyi ruled Mwenge
  13. Kagoro Araali ruled Bwiru
  14. Rukoke Nyakalika
  15. Kaikara Adyeri was priestesses. Kaikara has a shrine at Semwema Cave – – Goddess of the harvest.
  16. Nyabuzaana was priestesses
  17. Kagole was priestesses
  18. Mugizi was priestesses – God of the body of water called Lake Mwitanzige.
  19. Njunaki was priestesses. Prominent female Mucwezi military commander

 

What the Bahuma aka Bacwezi Introduced in Kitara

 

  1. Reed House
  2. Copper smelting
  3. Decentralized governace
  4. coffee
  5. cotton
  6. Wrestling
  7. Shoes -obukarabanda
  8. Orusoro
  9. Bark-cloth
  10. Omukago
  11. Cattle-Long Horned
  12. Regalia Enkondo/Drums
  13. Smoking Pipes
  14. Tobacco
  15. Salt Processing
  16. Making Ghee
  17. Barter trade
  18. Cattle Shade Kraal
  19. Making regalia such as Enkondo, Drums, etc

Praises/Ebikubyo for Kings of Kitara

Praises/Ebikubyo for the Kings of Kitara
Runyoro English
1 Hamya ha kyaro/Hangiriza “Rukirabasaija”. Stay on the Village/Praise  “Man above all Men”
2                || || “Mbaire”.                || ||  “Lover”
3                || || “Nyamunyaka”.                || ||  “besieger”
4                || || “Agutamba”.                || ||  “Savior”
5                || || “Mujurambi”.                || ||  “The one who takes away bad omen”
6                || || “Mbumba/Kabumba”.                || ||  “Unifyer”
7                || || “Owa Kitara”.                || ||  “of Kitara”
8                || || “Nzaire”.                || ||  “Birthier”
9                || || “Mwebingwa”.                || ||  “The one whom every one seeks”
10                || || “Ikingura”.                || ||  “One who opens”
11                || || “Iguru lyezire”.                || ||  “Clear as a Sky”
12                || || “Kasoro bahiga”.                || ||  “The animal that’s sought after/hunted”
13                || || “Kasura banyunya”.                || ||  “The Salt that everyone sips”
14                || || “Nkya nungi”.                || ||  “Good Luck”
15                || || “Nzigu magana”.                || ||  “Revenger on Wealth Stealers”
16                || || “Kituli kinobere abeemi”.                || ||  “The hater of Rebellion”
17                || || “Wamara ya’Bwera”.                || ||  “Bwera is for Wamara”
18                || || “Rusenda mainaro”.                || ||  “The one who sends away poverty”
19                || || “Byoto kikekiire”.                || ||  “Keeps Fire Places lighting”
20                || || “Bigere bisaga omumuhanda”.                || ||  “Wide feet that occupy the whole path/road”
21                || || “Lyogere”.                || ||  “The Clean one”
22                || || “Ngabu ekamwa”.                || ||  “Cow that is Milked”
23                || || “Ibuza bugyo”.                || ||  “The one who makes you lack options”
24 “Singa” Entale Ya’Bunyoro “Honor” the Lion of Bunyoro
25 Egunda gunde Karuziika nk’obujogera bwa Kogeere Let Karuziika be strong like the reign of Kogeere
26 Singa “Mukuza nfuuzi” “Honor the “Oprhan Protector”
27 “Emanzi” Ya’Bunyoro “Hero” of Bunyoro
28 “Singa” Mulira haiguru Amagufa nigakunkumuka “Honor” the one who eats from above and the bones drop
29 “Singa” Rumenya Mahanga “Honor” to the conqueror of all nations
30 “Singa” rwa Komwera “Honor” to the Son of Komwera
31 “Kahangirize” kobeho ebiro byona “Praise” you and may you live for ever
32 Mwijukura Wa Kabaleega Grandson of Kabaleega
33 Alikucuza amaziga ndimucuza esamaga Whoever will make you shade tears, I will make him shade blood
34 Alikucumira embaizi ndigicwankuna Whoever will throw an axe to you I will chew it
35 Abana b’engoma bacurane May the children of the throne be peaceful
36 Omugo agwagwane May the queen be at comfort
37 Ababiito hamu n’Ababitookati bacuraane May the princes and princesses be peaceful
38 Ensano ekwata amaizi The flour that holds water
39 Binyindo bicuuka omwika Big Nose that exhausts smoke
40 Omuzaaza nganda The Birthier of Clans

The Story of Omugo Nyabugondo and the creation of Enyambo Cattle Breed.

Omugo Nyabugondo and the creation of Enyambo Cattle Breed.

 

Omugo Nyabugondo was one of Omukama Wamara Bwigunda’s three wives, a inquisitive woman and natural scientist by nature. She is credited with having developed the Royal breed of cattle known as “Enyambo” and introduced them to Karagwe, Rwanda and Burundi.

The new breed of cattle developed was able to withstand most of the tropical disease

Nyabugondo’s very name also points to another interesting fact: the breed of cattle known as “Bugondo” or “Ngondo” – has a dappled pattern that is hard to raise. The Ngondo and Nyambo cattle were bred exclusively in Bwera and exported elsewhere, both breeds as now endangered and face extinction.

Wamara’s two other wives besides Nyabugondo were Bunono and Nyante.

Note: Omukama Wamara Bwigunda was the 22nd Mukama of Kitara and the 3rd of the Bachwezi Dynasty

Story of Omukama Ndahura and the Bird that Blazed in the Dark

Omukama Ndahura and the Bird that Blazed in the Dark

The ancestors of the Bahweju originated from Karagwe in Tanzania, and they entered Nkore through Mpororo. As they came into the country, a bird descended from heaven and lighted on one of them. At that time, there was in the land a clan of people called Abarara, who were seers and prophets.

They told the Bahweju to follow the bird wherever it would lead them, that it was a sign that a kingdom awaited them. They followed the bird then, and it led them.

They followed it day and night, for it blazed (lighted) in the dark. It led them from Mpororo, through Buhweju and Kitara, and there it disappeared. So they went to King Ndahura of the Bachwezi.

They had with them their sister(Nyakahuma), a girl of great beauty. When King Ndahura saw her, he wanted to marry her. Her brothers consented, and she was married to King Ndahura. In return, he gave them part of Kitara land.

Story of why the dead don’t come back to life

Folklore – Why the dead do not come back

 

At one time men rose again from the dead and came back to earth to their friends. Only animals never returned.

There was a man, who lived with his sister, and she had a dog of which she was very fond, and the dog died. When people rose again, it was the rule for all the living to adorn themselves in their best to go and meet their risen friends. The man and his friends said to his sister, “Put on your good clothing and come to meet the risen.” She replied, “No. Why should I go when my dog is dead and gone?”

Ruhanga heard her and was angry and said, “So people don’t care what becomes of the dead. They shall not rise again, for death will end their careers.” Now when a man dies he does not come back.

The people still believe that the dead come to see them in the eventide, and they dress up in their best clothes and sit by the door with a pot of milk and other food and remain silent lest they should disturb the dead who come to partake.

Widows say that their husbands will wear the clothing that they offer them, and they leave things about in the house for them.

Sarah Ndagire Amooti

*Sarah Ndagire* born in Uganda (East Africa), October 12, now based in London (UK) is singer-songwriter with over 20 years in the music industry.
Her music which combines western culture and *traditional folklore* of story telling traditional stories and Legends has been a big opportunity for her to share her talent with many ethnic groups, communities and societies thus promoting *African culture* to all parts of the world.
Sarah Ndagire also performed with the Afrigo band from 2004 and left 2006 a period of about 2 years
These are some of the more than 30 songs in her names is below:
*Luganda Songs*
1. Agalifa
2. Engero
3. Yo’no omwana
4. Olikoma eyo
5. Kunsiko yaffe
6. Akakisa
7. Peter
8. Akakokolo
9. Twalinga bato
10. Za Ndongo
11. Keevuge
12. Binsobedde
13. Akalulu
14. Zabbuli eya 27
*Swahili Song*
1. Dunia
*Runyoro Songs*
1. Nindira
2. Katitira
3. Oijhe Orare
4. Nyamijumbi
5. Kabeibere
6. Mpara
7. Ngayaaya
8. Twara Amata gawe
9. Ekitumbwe
10. Ekonko yange
*Runyakore Songs*
1. Okunde Nyowe
2. Oyonkye
*English Songs*
1. Village woman
2. Melody
3. Light up my candle
4. Train
5. Bird Song
6. Home
7. My Country
8. Walk the Talk
9. Sim Sim
Link to her Music on Youtube:
Website:

Embwa Rubwoga

Embwa Rubooga

 

A long time ago, there lived a Man who had two wives, his children and his beloved dog Rubooga.

 

The Man loved Rubooga the dog so much that it would never leave his sight whenever he was home. The dog would welcome him whenever he got back home from work.

 

Whenever he would travel for work, he would return home with meat for his families and his dog, and it would be well prepared for both his family and dog.

One day he travelled and took very long to return home. Unfortunately, his family who were used to eating meat were craving for meat, so one of the wives decided to kill Rubooga, the dog to get meat to feed herself and her children.

 

When the man returned from his journey, Rubooga the dog did not welcome him as usual, and because he loved Rubooga so much he was filled with so much sadness, he asked his wives where Rubooga the dog had gone, but both wives denied its whereabouts.

 

So, in order to find out the truth about his dog, the man decided to dig a very deep pit, and underneath, he filled it with spears, and asked each wife to line up and sing a song before jumping over the pit.

 

The sang the song that went like,

If I ate Rubooga, I will jump and fall in the deep pit, if I did not eat Rubooga, I will jump and not fall in the pit *3

 

The first wife, together with her children sang and were able to jump over the deep pit safely.

 

As the second wife went on, she had already started crying, because she was guilty. She together with her children sung and fell into the deep pit and died because they had all eaten Rubooga.

 

Moral of the story,

Always tell the truth, no matter the circumstance.

*Bunyoro-Kitara Folklore*

The Story of the hare and leopard

Folklore – The Hare and the Leopard

 

Once, many years ago, a hare and a leopard lived together. The hare was nurse to the leopard’s two children and also had charge of the house.

One day the leopard went out hunting and the hare was nursing the children in her lap. She let one child fall, and it injured its back so that it died at once. The hare was very frightened, and put the two children to bed side by side and covered them up as though they were sleeping.

In due time the mother leopard came home carrying the meat, which was a goat she had killed. She threw down the meat and asked for the children to nurse them. The hare brought the living baby, saying, “Nurse this one first. The other is fast asleep.”

After a time the leopard said, “Bring the other,” so the hare took away the first baby and put it in bed and, after pretending to cover it and lift the other, she brought back the same living baby. The leopard said, “This is the same baby,” but the hare denied it, saying, “No, that is the other.”

After a few moments the leopard got up to go and look for herself in the bed, and as she did so the hare ran out of the house and down to the river.

The leopard uncovered the other baby and saw that it was dead. She raised a cry and rushed out after the hare. When the hare reached the river she rolled in the mud and then swam to the other side and sat on a hillock to await the leopard. After a few minutes the leopard came panting along and did not recognize the hare as her nurse. She asked, “Have you seen a hare pass here?” The hare said, “No.

We have been hunting leopards for the king. We have killed nine and want one more to complete the number he asked for. You had better run away; the hunters are coming and may catch you.” As the hare said this, there was a noise in the grass near and the leopard, fearing that it was the hunters, ran away back again, leaving the hare in safety.

The Kings Clowns(Abaseegu)

THE KINGS CLOWNS(ABASEEGU)

Abaseegu perform and also play on wind instruments called enseegu(cone-flutes).
Abaseegu occupied a very high social status because of their role in the Kingdom, and it was very hard to move close to them
The enseegu were important royal instruments, and their players occupied a high position in the palace.
The enseegu music was played every day (together with the entimbo music) at the king’s bedroom window to soothe him to sleep and to wake him up. This music also accompanied the king during royal processions
Apart from playing the ensegu instrument, they also praised the king ironically, as if to insult him.
The abaseegu made serious points that made the King adjust his behavior accordingly, the abaseegu could say anything before the king and would not be punished but instead rewarded, sometimes with a bull.
They were useful in pointing out what the king had failed to do or a scandal he might have caused.
Abasegu are of Abasuuli clan. Omusegu is a King’s jester(comedian) whose role is every morning to abuse the king by use of foul and vulgar words in order to make him smile or laugh (okwera).
Jests included the following:
Aturubaire, Acudiize, Ohukumaire, Otundubaire, Ofadadaire
Kirole nkokukihurubaire!
[Behold how gloomy he is!]
Ebitama byakyo mbe!
[Look at his big cheeks!]
Kikurora ebiroliroli nkekitakurora!
[Stares like a blind person!]
Kirole ebitiwa byakyo!
[Behold his ugly lips!]
Kihurubaire nkebisisi bitafumuirwe!
[He is wearing a gloomy face like those of gourds!]

However, when the king smiled a bit, they then praise him positively:

Keere nkyanungi!
[May you laugh, the good lord!]
Keere agutamba!
[May you laugh, Lord!]
Keere rukirabasaija!
[May you laugh, the greatest among man!]
The abaseegu regulated the king’s actions since people usually took advantage of their status to communicate to the king his weaknesses so that he might adjust. In this way, the abaseegu acted as an administrative tool for reprimanding the king and bringing about royal order, by indirectly controlling the king’s power.
In centralised societies where the king has absolute power, it is hard to reprimand him when necessary. However, music and clown-ism provides systems of addressing people who are untouchable.
Example of words used to warn the King or help him adjust his behavior
Ofadadaire aho, tokuhuliriza ebyabantu bakugamba!
[You have parked yourself there, without taking note of what the people are saying!]
Omukama koima!
[You are a tight-fisted king!]
Koli mufu!
[You are dead!]
Ebinyindo bikucuncumuka omwiika!
[Your nose is steaming with smoke !]
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