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.
Episodes
36 episodes
The Envoys Who Saw the World: The Story I Didn’t Say
This is the story I didn’t say.In the main episode, I focused on what the envoys meant to Buganda. Here, I slow things down and follow their journey step by step from the Nile, through Sudan, into Egypt, and eventually to Englan...
•
28:14
.jpeg)
Kabaka Muteesa I’s 1879 Mission to London: Survival Diplomacy in Buganda
By 1879, the kingdom of Buganda found itself caught in the expanding shadow of empire. To the north, Egyptian forces were pushing deeper into the Upper Nile, threatening to extend their authority toward the Great Lakes.In this episode of...
•
47:39
Master of the Waves: Mukasa, God of Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria has always been more than geography. For the people who lived along its shores in Buganda and across the Great Lakes region, it was a living domain capable of taking life without warning, yet sustaining entire communities.<...
•
21:11
A Spirit World Pretending to Be a Lake: The Serpent Spirits of Lake Victoria in African Mythology
The world’s second-largest freshwater lake is more than a body of water. It is a boundary. For those who lived along its shores in East Africa, Lake Victoria was shaped by unseen presence—spirits, serpents, and forces that governed life, death,...
•
8:10
At the Edge of Buganda: Why James Hannington Turned Back (Part 5)
At Kagei the crucial port on the southern shore of Lake Victoria and the main gateway to Buganda by canoe, James Hannington finally steps free after his detention by King Romwa of Buzinza. But just as the last stretch of his journey comes into ...
•
14:27
Canoes, Cloth, and Conflict: The Wary King Romwa (Hannington Part 4)
After a brutal trek across the interior, James Hannington and two fellow missionaries finally reach the lands of Romwa of Buzinza, exhausted, sick, and desperate for canoes to cross Lake Victoria. But with empty hands and no tribute to offer, t...
•
11:26
The Shadow of Mirambo: King on the Caravan Road (Hannington Part 3)
Frail and fevered, James Hannington reaches the caravan’s camp only to find them seized by dread. Beyond the horizon lies Mirambo’s domain, a land few dare to cross. His name moves through Central Africa like a storm: the warrior-king who defie...
•
14:16
Dust, Fever, and Bitter Water: Across the Ugogo Plains (Hannington Part 2)
The missionary James Hannington crosses the harsh Ugogo Plains of Tanzania’s Dodoma region, home of the Wagogo people. Battling wind, dust, and disease, his faith is tested in one of the most unforgiving stretches of the 19th-century East Afric...
•
14:53
Into the Interior: The Road to the Kingdom of Buganda (Hannington Part 1)
Today marks 140 years since the death of Bishop James Hannington of the Church Missionary Society, killed on his way to the Buganda Kingdom on October 29, 1885.What many don’t realize is that this was actually his second attempt to reach...
•
21:56
Enkai: The God Who Changes Color
Enkai is the creator god of the Maasai people. He reveals himself in three colors: white, red, and black. Among them, red and black speak the loudest.Inspired by the oral traditions of the Maasai, this episode follows a lone Maasai woman...
•
21:30
Dead Kings, Alive Wives: The Royal Women of Kasubi Tombs
The king may be gone but his wives remain.At the royal tombs of Kasubi, a small community of women continues to serve long after death. They are the royal widows of Buganda: chosen from different clans, bound to the king in life...
•
13:28
Kasubi Tombs: Palace, Power, and the Afterlife of Buganda Kings
What if a king never truly dies? In Buganda, power doesn’t end with a funeral. It transforms.Today, the royal palace is modern, more European in design than ancestral. But at the Kasubi Tombs, the old world still breathes. This ...
•
16:52
The Cannibal Night Dancer | African Book of Monsters, Episode 2
In this episode, I dive into the chilling legends of the cannibal night dancer said to feast on human flesh and embody the darkest fears of African folklore. But beyond the myths, how did accusations of cannibalism shape perceptions of morality...
•
48:42
Prankster Witch of the Night: The Night Dancer
In this debut episode of the African Book of Monsters series, we unravel the haunting legend of the night dancer. What makes these figures so feared across communities? And what deeper truths do their stories reveal about the societies...
•
38:29
The God of Death Muteesa and the Buganda Martyrs of 1875/76.
The Uganda Martyrs incident that resulted in the deaths of 45 christian converts in 1886 is widely known to christians worldwide.Unbeknownst to many, there is another martyrdom incident that occurred 10 or so years prior. In fact, there are...
•
54:00
The "Meat Giver" King & The Forgotten Micro-Kingdoms of Busiki & Busambira
Explore the history of the Busiki and Busambira states, two forgotten micro-kingdoms of pre-colonial Uganda. While most Busoga states were ruled by the AbaiseNgobi, these two nations were led by the lesser-known AbaiseIgaga clan.In this...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 6
•
23:42
The Matriarchs of Uganda: Stories from the Precolonial Era
Happy Mother's day to all mothers in the world. Queen - Mothers were vital to the power structures of the intralacustrine region. They were often the rallying points around which clans gathered to defend their candidate of choice. Here i...
•
25:50
Sibling States: The Forgotten Micro-Kingdoms of Bulamogi and Bukono
In this installment of "Those Who Came Before Us," we explore the intertwined pre-colonial histories of Bulamogi and Bukono. These are not just neighbouring states; they are "sibling states" founded by the AbaiseNgobi—the royal clan whose linea...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 5
•
27:37
The King of Spikes & The Defiant Cattle Keeper: Origins of The Forgotten Micro-Kingdom of Bukooli.
While other states sought only to survive, Bukooli sought to dominate. Located at the strategic crossroads of the East, the AbaiseWakooli clan didn't just rule a territory, they guarded a gateway. In this episode, we unpack the high-stakes hist...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 4
•
46:41
The King Who Refused to Rule: The Forgotten Micro-Kingdom of Bugweri
Discover the hidden history of Bugweri, a powerful pre-colonial micro-kingdom within the modern-day Busoga region of Uganda. In this episode of "Those Who Came Before Us," we trace the rise of the AbaiseMenha clan and their legendary founder, K...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 3
•
16:05
Busoga Folklore: The Leopard that thought he was too clever.
This is a morbid cautionary tale from Busoga in Uganda. It was told by Christopher Baseuse from the AbaiseKiranda clan. It was recorded by historian David Cohen at Baseuse's home on 7 October 1966.Follow me onInstagram at twcbupod
•
3:11
The Bamboo Prince - Ibanda: Rise of the Forgotten Micro-Kingdom of Buzimba-Kigulu
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 "Bamb...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 2
•
32:17
Busoga Folklore: Why the Monkey and Elephant are friends
This story is based on the folklore called "The famine" which was collected by Mrs George Baskerville. I think the name change is more fitting. lol.The name of the book it was published in is called "The Flame Tree and other folklore."L...
•
Season 2
•
2:52
Kintu vs. Mukama: The Founders of The Forgotten Micro-Kingdoms of Busoga
Before the modern borders of Eastern Uganda were drawn, there was a land of 68 states known as Busoga. Today, it stands as one of Uganda's five major monarchies. But how did it all begin?In this premiere episode of our series, we journe...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 1
•
22:35
The Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara: Pre-colonial Warfare
In today’s episode, we talk about the military of the pre-colonial African kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara. For most of its history, Bunyoro did not have a standing army. Instead, they relied on the common man to take up arms when called up...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 12
•
58:09