Entogoro is a courtship dance with a long history.
As the legend goes, a very long time ago, several men sought to marry the same beautiful girl.
To settle who would win her hand in marriage, a big ceremony was organized and all the suitors were invited to dance before the girl’s elders who would then determine the suitor with the most stamina that would be best able to fend for and protect their daughter.
Although this is no longer used as a way to determine the eligibility of a suitor, entogoro is still performed for entertainment at traditional Nyoro weddings.
Visitors to Bunyoro on cultural tours can engage in this old courtship dance alongside local groups of men and women.
The Nyoro dance, Entogoro also called Runyege, is one of Uganda’s most famous traditional dances, and probably the most energetic.
The dance is named for the pod rattles tied around boys’ legs called ebinyege and entogoro that produce percussion rhythms that blend in with the song and drumbeat.