Discovering the Melodious Folk Music of
Uganda with Emmanuel Katto
There are more than 30 different tribes in Uganda. The Nilots and the Bantu tribes are mostly
found in the north and south of the country. Tribal music in Uganda is majorly ceremonial in
nature. It is performed by well-trained and professional tribesmen at special occasions such as
weddings, initiation ceremonies, and royal feasts. The main focus of tribal music in Uganda is
dancing in the community. Call-and-response singing is common for conveying important
messages to people. I’m Emmanuel Katto a Uganda based local journalist, who mainly collects
the latest stories and happenings of Uganda and Africa as a whole, on different domains and
headlines. Today I will tell you some of the interesting things regarding the folk music of
Uganda.
Uganda's folk music, which is primarily composed of drums, is an integral part of everyday life
in the country, where the Baganda people are the predominant ethnic group. It is composed of
different rhythms and flow, for different occasions and situations, and the role of women is
quite prominent here. Folk music is instrumental in preparing children for various aspects of
life, such as fishing, hunting, agriculture, and marriage. Most folk music genres in Uganda are
pentatonic in nature, and dances accompany rituals and ceremonies. In my (Emmanuel Katto)
personal view, folk or traditional music is the mirror of society, which connects people with the
originality and essence of their culture. Below are the types of folk or traditional music of
Uganda.
Popular Folk or Traditional Music of Uganda
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The Baganda Music- One of the most surprising and amazing music genres in Uganda is the
Baganda folk music, which is very popular and enjoyed by people. Baganda people live mostly in
central Uganda and are the largest ethnic group in the country. Baganda folk music is mainly
based on different types of drums and different types of percussions used in the music. Other
than the rhythm section, the main instruments used in Baganda folk music are Akadinda, which
is a xylophone, Ennanga, which is a harp, Etongoli, which is a lyre, and Kadongo, which is a
lamellophone. The musical scale is almost pentatonic.
The Abayudaya Folk Music- The Jewish People's Music of Uganda is a form of folk music
composed by approximately 600 communities living in small villages close to the city of Mbale in
eastern Uganda. In the early twentieth century, there was a large Jewish population in Uganda,
however, many of them were forced to transition to Islam or Christianity. Recent contacts with
and economic assistance from Israel have contributed to the prosperity of the entire Mbale
region. Traditional music plays a significant role in the lives of the Jewish people, and they
maintain their religious beliefs through their music, which is both Jewish and African in origin.
The lyrics of the music are written in both Hebrew and Luganda, one of the primary languages of
the communities, which ultimately depicts both cultures.
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Kadongo Kamu- Kadongo kamu is one of the popular music genres of Uganda. It's the first
mainstream music to be popular in the country. It's named after the "one little guitar" that used
to be played by just one guitar, but then other instruments were added. It's based on Baganda
music which is folk music, and the guitar playing and singing ideas come from some of the
drumming and dancing from Baganda music. It's said to be the father of Kadongo kamu. Elly
Wamala was one of the founders, but he stopped playing it because he didn't think many
musicians were skilled enough to play it. Paul Kafeero is most famous for his work in the
Kadongo Kamu tradition. Kidandali is another popular music type in Uganda. It means "local
party" or "celebration" in the local language, so it's usually played at parties, weddings, and
other ceremonies.
Folk music is a vital part of culture, representing people's identity and binds them to their
nation. Uganda's folk music showcases the sweet, charming, and hospitality culture, using
traditional instruments like Adungu, Berimbeau, Endingidi, Endere, Enkwanzi, Akogo, Engalabi,
Engoma, Embuutu, Namunjolooba, Akacence, and Kidandali.