Those Who Came Before Us
Those Who Came Before Us is an immersive journey into African history, oral traditions, and the pre-colonial kingdoms of the Great Lakes. From Buganda and Bunyoro to the mysteries of the Bachwezi and the spirits of Lake Victoria, each episode blends history and myth to reveal the emotional and spiritual world of East Africa. Together, we hold a lantern to the darkness of the past. So that the stories, fears, and ambitions of those who came before us are never forgotten.
New episodes explore African mythology, Buganda history, and the hidden worlds of pre-colonial East Africa.
Those Who Came Before Us
The Bamboo Prince - Ibanda: Rise of the Forgotten Micro-Kingdom of Buzimba-Kigulu
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Was the founder of the Kigulu dynasty born among the bamboo? In this episode, we journey to the heart of Busoga to uncover the history of the AbaiseNgobi of Kigulu (formerly Buzimba).
We follow the story of Prince Ibanda Ngobi, the "Bamboo Prince" and examine how a group of incoming Luo migrants integrated with the indigenous populations to create one of the most powerful states in the region. This isn't just a story of royalty; it’s a story of merging cultures, strategic marriage, and the high-stakes politics of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Explore the rise and fall of kings, the brutal succession wars, and the eventual unification under King Miro during the British Protectorate era.
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References
David William Cohen, “The Historical Tradition of Busoga; Mukama and Kintu” ( London: Clarendon Press, 1972)
David William Cohen, “The Political Transformation of Northern Busoga:Cahiers d'Études Africaines, Vol. 22, Cahier 87/88, Systèmes étatiques africains (1982),pp. 465-488
David William Cohen, “Emergence and Crisis: The States of Northern Busoga in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries” , in D. DENOON, ed., History of Uganda, vol. II (Nairobi: East African Publishing House).
Federick Peter Batala-Nayenga, “An Economic History of the Lacustrine States of Busoga, Uganda: 1750-1939” ( University of Michigan, 1976)
Renee Tantala, “The Consolidation of AbaiseNgobi Rule in Southern Kigulu” ( Madison: University of Wisconsin, B. A. thesis), IV-77 P. mimeo, 1973)
Y.K. Lubogo ESQ, “History of Busoga”(Kisubi,Uganda: Marianum Press Ltd, 2020)(Translated and reprint from original written in Luganda)
Music Used
Omukazi Omugamba Lubala, Sound of Africa Series.
Obuwala Bwe Nawandende, ‘’ ‘’