Wrap Up: Makerere University Cultural Gala

OKELLO HERBERT

A society is identified by it’s heritage. African societies are defined by a rich cultural heritage. This is a reason why culture should be preserved at all costs.

Last Saturday, the curtains came down at the University Hall, after weeks of fervent preparation and devotion. The tribal groups presented the fruits of their work at Makerere University.

Over 30 teams took part, down from 32 after the Baganda and Nkore withdrew. Colourful the cultural gala was, and indeed inside the scholarly walls of Makerere University lies talent.  African beauty at it’s best, fine and agile waists ,strewn with colourful beads.
Vigorous choreography and smiley faces. Clearly the faculty of MDD had done it’s job. There was a touch of all tribes of culture and tribal dances, the Nyoro orunyege, the Luo raka raka the Gishu Imbalu.

The defending champions the Ganda were absent sadly but of course their Soga brothers didn’t disappoint, taking the crown ultimately.

The Cultural Minister of University Hall and contributor to this article Weboya Paul, cites, the lack of enough finance and absence of support from the students who tend to brand the gala as “traditional ” as the major challenges. However the tribal groups soldiered on to the grand finale.

The dramatic moment and climax of the gala was the live imbalu session. The Gishu society, put acting aside and circumcised a senior one boy Bwayo David from Oxford SS Mbale, who traveled from Mbale to be cut. The Gishu community of Makerere took it upon themselves to be caretakers of the boy who manifested unheard of bravery and wincing not at the wife he came to Kampala a boy and left a man. Weboya Paul acted as his father.

The new Kyabazinga must be a lucky man, his sons the Basoga took the crown, the Acholi were second and Konjo from Kasese came third. The winners took home 5million ugx , the second 2 million ugx .

The judges were an external team and the occasion was blessed with the presence of the Dean of Students Mr Kabagambe and his assistant plus a number of top lecturers.