The Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara: Pre-Colonial Bunyoro Society

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This episode is an attempt to reconstruct the pre-colonial society of Bunyoro.  I discuss their clans, livelihoods, marriage and justice etc. Please note that the information presented was collected during the colonial period in Uganda. Therefore it is impossible to say with absolute certainty that everything was exactly the same as in pre-colonial times. 

Enjoy.

PS: Banyoro, please excuse my butchery of your language. :)                                                                                                                                                             Sources

John Beattie, Bunyoro; An African Kingdom (New York: Holt Rinehart and Winston Inc, 1960) 

John Roscoe: The Bakitara (London: Cambridge University Press, 1923) 

G.N. Uziogwe: Precolonial Markets in Bunyoro-kitara( University of Michigan: Cambridge University Press 1972) 

Yolamu Ndoleriire Nsamba, Mystique In Sovereign Headgear (Wandsbeck: Reach Publishers, 2016), 

Shane Doyle, Crisis & Decline in Bunyoro; Population & Environment in Western Uganda 1860 - 1955, (Kampala: Fountain Publishers, 2006) 

J.K Babiiha, The Uganda Journal; The Journal of Uganda Society Vol 22 No.2 “The Bayaga of Western Uganda” (The Uganda Society Kampala, Sept 1958) p123

Sir James George Frazier, Marriage and Worship in the Early Societies A Treatise on Totemism and Exogamy (New Delhi: Mittal Publications, Jan 1986) p497

Isaabaruuli Isaabarongo Mwogezi Butamanya, “The History of Baruuli/Banyala” (Kampala: Earnest Publishers, 2004)

Background Music Sources

Truth in the Stones Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

“Obugambo bunsemerire ngalyara” recorded by Hugh Tracey.

“Kawamyita wagenda baligira nkaituoha” recorded by Hugh Tracey. It’s a wedding song.

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