Some Grand Kwanjula and Wedding in Kampala.

I   watched a show called 'kwanjula' on NBS TV on 29th May 2014. I had stopped somewhere for a meal and the show was on . On this featured occasion,  a radio presenter in Uganda had a kwanjula' and wedding.  The ‘kwanjula ‘ is an occasion in Buganda  where the male groom is introduced by his girlfriend to the girl’s family.  On this particular one, the gentleman interviewed said that he ‘kwanjulaed’   his wife of 12 years. 

I am sure any person from a culture outside Buganda’s and as well outside the modern (or some would say backward?) society that is the Kampala of today would find it very hard to understand what was going on.  I too, struggled to wrap my head around it.  The main reaction I had to the whole show was “What is going on?”   In fact, it took me a good 15 or so minutes of watching the program before I finally believed that this was indeed  a kwajula and not a drama about a 'kwanjula'.   I am Ugandan and have attended very many kwanjulas , so you need to understand that this was an unusual one.
 Bukedde TV had an excerpt of it. Please see the clip below;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEOu3FxBMqU

Back to the review; in the beginning, they showed all these big wigs of Kampala’s political and sub-terrannean bourgeouisie sitting in colourful   gomesis   in  beautiful Moroccan tents. The colors were astounding   and  I will say really beautiful.  Bright yellows, lime greens, bright and flashy oranges, reds and browns with studded stones of bright jewellery.    Gomesi-clad plump and browned women graced the seats and sung along with the many singers brought along to liven the occasion. At some point, they would even get up, sing and jiggle their bodies along to the music.  The women’s  hair was well coiffed and the rings were flashy and large.  Quite like a Rio-2 bonanza.  

Apart from the bright women, there was a surfeit of singers.   Many and various.   Name it, if it is a regular tidi-tidi, tidi-tidi song; the singer was there.  In between the songs,   there was a chubby and large woman who was giving out money to anyone who stopped where she was.  When the first singer sang to her especially, she handed out  about 900,000 shillings (about 500 dollars)   or so in 50k notes.   She did this with a flourish; counting out all the notes one by one.  When the next singer came to her, she handed out ten thousand shillings notes.  I lost count of how many she gave.  Again with a flourish. Closely recorded for all to see. The money giving seemed like a new kind of ceremony that seemed to have a meaning I could not decipher.  Normally if someone sings well in Buganda, an excited reveler may tip them with about five thousand shilling if they are generous. This was not the usual ‘kufuuwa’ as it is called in luganda culture.   

Then several singers came on stage;   singing songs like katiki-tiki, , katujanjawaze etc, etc (n'ebirala , n'ebirala).   A lot of the usual collage of songs you are likely to hear on a Ugandan radio were sung. The only one song I was waiting for them to sing was ‘enkola ya taxi’ but they did not sing it, May be it was not appropriate. 

Another song that could have been so good at that point would have been;  Wrecking Ball to signify the state of the groom’s and all the supporter's pockets after the occasion but Miley Cyrus was too far away from the place and she would have been quietly sent away or given a 'lesu' to wrap around herself if she appeared in her recent (un) usual state of dress. The guy who received the 900,000 shillings in notes must have felt like a room without a roof, so singer Farrell was also missing at that part of the program. 

The common theme throughout this kwanjula (and subsequent wedding) was basically; large and ostentatious.   Large women in flamboyant dresses, electric hair and  sizable behinds singing about love they have hopefully had.   Large smiles on the people’s faces.  Large men in white kanzus,   some probably attending with their second or third wife or both (mark this particular introduction was the kwajula of a second wife).  Large cars; the wedding cars were so big and white and drove through many parts of Kampala.  Large crowds; people stood up on many of Kampala’s large arcades staring down at the wedding cars on the wedding day as they passed.  Large expenses; I am sure these two 'do’s; wedding and kwanjula must have cost quite a lot of money.  This kwanjula and wedding and were quite interesting and unusual, even for Kampala. Quite a spectacle and  quite spectacular.

At the end of it, I was thinking ‘what have I been a witness of?'   ‘ Money and  Power in Kampala/Buganda’s Entertainment Circles’?  This is one of many such I and others  have witnessed. All over the country.  Then I thought; When does it stop being a kwanjula and it becomes showbiz? What about all the MPs   and big shots there? Are they entertainers too?  Quite confusing.    What did that young man aged 16 to 30 years standing on the arcade looking down think?   What do you think?

A picture of a 'more-than-generous' kwanjula gift package.

Is joy and success associated with having a lorrful of gifts for your bride-to-be or bride-has-been? aIs is it having all the famous singers of contemporary music  (wherever you live) at your wedding or engagement occasion? Is it having the most popular and notorious or great MPs  or 'celebs' or 'seleebuz' at your party?  Is the successful person in Uganda or in the world at that ,  the one who is able to have a big occasion graced by all the rated ‘big’ singers or people in their geographical region?

 In current Uganda, you coulld say the good lyfe crew, islanders, basement crews, base members 'n'ebirala n'ebirala.  If you live in North America, it could be the rihannas, beyonces and   kadazes.  If you live in Asia it could be the  gangnams,  whatevers and  all that.   Is success or joy knowing the famous singers? politicians? rich-in-money people? No it is not.

 Is it being popular with your age group, college mates, rugby or  your cheer-leading team?  Is it being popular with your football or hockey team?  Or popular  with your academic  group, fellow power brokers or parents or clan?  Does joy or success come from having money or power that 'you can spend and be seen spending?  Is it having friends who can spend money on you?   The answer ...through the ages to all these questions is a big NO.

 It is important that the young man, young woman, middle aged, old man and old woman, really look closely at their life and seek joy from what matters.  What matters is usually not what everybody else thinks matters and what matters does not cost money.  

What matters most is relationships.  You and your good relationship with God.   You in touch with yourself

; healthy in soul, body and spirit. In joy or afflicted but... you.  You, able to contribute a lot to all near you as you are.  You, as you were when you were first born.   Free, Unfettered, Childlike, Unselfish, You.   

Even if you were not loved by those who you found near you when you first became aware of them, you need to know that you are unique and able to make a difference. God loves you. You were made in the image of God. You are loved by God and you are Lovely.  You don’t have to have riches or live to show them off or to get them (though riches if well handled, do a lot of good!).  

The teaching of Jesus says that He who will have eternal life should not live according to the flesh but according to the spirit. I John 2 :15-16 says  ^“ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”.

So in conclusion, from that kwanjula;  much as i enjoyed the drama of it,  i felt there is a message to many people close to where i live; young, old, men , women, sheltered, unsheltered, employed or unemployed  but especially the young; You are something.  Please don't think that those with a lot to show off; physically, money-wise, power-wise or otherwise are better than you are. You are you and you are wonderful.  You are rich already.  Live your life and live it well...Simply.
 

Drive to Nakasongola District in Uganda

 Nakasongola District

Nakasongola District in Uganda lies North of Kampala in the Central Part of Uganda.
The road to Nakasongola goes through Luwero District and travels north on the road to Gulu.
The place is a short two hours drive from Kampala and characterized by great bushy savannah with some grasslands and shrubs, sometimes green and in the dry season a dusty greenish brown.
Nakasongola neighbours with Luwero on the south, a big swamp called Lubenge, a branch of the Kyoga River lies at the border of the two districts;

Lubenge Swamp Bordering Luwero and Nakasongola Districts

A welcome sign will tell you where you are;

Welcome Sign to Nakasongola District

If you are lucky you may see one of the rare Shoe Bill in that swamp. The other place you can see this precious bird  is in the Zoo. You are more likely to see them in the morning in the wet seasons (March to June and August to December).

Shoebill Sited Resting in Lubenge Swamp.

The road is smooth and newly repaired, one of the best roads in Uganda. Speed limits can go as high as 100km per hour. Drive safely, especially as you approach the little towns along the road, you are required to slow down to 50 km per hour. The traffic police are waiting round the corner and they are quite generous with their tickets. However it is a very beautiful journey and quite peaceful on any given day. If you are lucky you may cross it in the time of the rainy season when the white ants are rising and flying. A once in a lifetime experience.

Smooth Road North

The Road is very good but you best get on the road while early because as the hours go on, many big trucks travelling to  and from Northern Uganda and South Sudan will be competing for space with you. The big 'Gaa-gaa' buses  and 'Baby' coaches will come hurtling down on you, making high pitched,  very loud noises forcing you off the road.  Quite unruly. A new definition of Road Rude   Advice is;  if you see or hear any one of these or other racing buses bearing down on you,  best slow down and  let them pass, otherwise they can cause a very bad accident to you. They have been involved in many a nasty accident on that road and caused many deaths on that road in the past.

Once you reach Wabigalo Town, you will branch off  on the right to the main town. That is where the  government administrative units are. Small stone formations rising out of the plains called isobars will welcome you to Nakasongola Town. You may climb up one of them right in the middle of the town if you feel strong enough to do so.  There are some beautiful rock formations a little off the town center, that you may want to see before you leave town. If you ask at the police station, they will direct you to where they are. The town is quiet and  in the wet season the weather is moderately cool but in the dry season quite hot, packing a lot of water for drinking will make your time there more pleasant.

Isobar Formations as you approach Nakasongola Town

If you have time, please branch off into one of the ranchlands in nakasongola. The district is one of the richest in large scale cow ranching. Some large ranches to see include Kizito ranch, Zziwa Ranch, Kamukama Ranch and many others.  Many types of cows can be seen if you visit these ranches or on the road grazing ; local cows, Ankole cow, Boran Cows and the Sarwan type.

A Boran Cow and Baby in a ranch in Nakasongola

Along the road to Gulu you will be able to see the Zziwa Ranchers where the rare white Rhino has a sanctuary. Stop by and see the rare White Rhino.

Otherwise take some time for those who live in Uganda or those who are visiting to leave Kampala and visit Nakasongola District. A land of meat, milk and honey...as well as hot sun.

Savannah Bush , Nakasongola in the Rainy Season

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To Engage, Inspire and Rejuvenate Body, Mind and Community

This blog is a service provided under the auspices of Living Fields Community and Health Initiatives, an organization based in Uganda. Founded in 2013, we hope to use this blog as a platform to inspire young and old to settle into who they are, to thrive in their environments and out of their usual environments, to help persons grow and develop while being safe and healthy; physically, emotionally, spiritually,  in scholarly, economical, literary, physical and practical ways.

We will hope to learn from many diverse sources of knowledge and be practical as we can about it. We believe life is about learning. Learning what works, what is tasty, what makes different people happy or feel good, not just physically but economically, socially and psychologically as well as several other "ally's.

We may as well discuss making cupcakes , cassava katogo or the works of Desiderius Erasmus on this blog. We will aim for maximizing the nature of stuff  but will encourage and seek diversity and growth as well as trying to establish a healthy lifestyle in many aspects of life. We want to have an open dialogue about life and how to make it better and how to make it matter and so many other things.

This blog will be dedicated to people, young, middle aged and old people. This blog will aim to lift up the hearts of people by bringing to their attention interesting things about life and living here in Uganda and elsewhere that we hope will inspire them and help them live healthier more joyful, fulfilled lives.

We will write about story stories, life stories, news stories,  books, recipes, news, science, scholarships, ideas, job opportunities, skills, fashion, design, philosophy, events, about farming, the weather, etc etc ...; stuff that we hope will lift the heart or bring a lesson to life and living, in our own and other peoples lives. We will share different types of knowledge and sources of knowledge, online and otherwise that we hope will make a difference for the better.

Hopefully while reading these musings, someone's heart will be lifted up, they may be caused or pushed along to wonder, reflect , to plan, to explore and thereafter live fuller and more peaceful lives. That is it simple. We really want to make someone's life better even if it is one person.

We are about creating living fields for people to traverse through. Bounteous Living Fields. Safe Living Fields. Happy Living Fields. And like fields, we are dynamic and go through the seasons..


Welcome to Living Fields Uganda.