The Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara: The Kubandwa Religion Artwork

Those Who Came Before Us

Most of us are aware of how badly represented Africa is. The continent is too often reduced to a number of degrading stereotypes. But Africa has a rich and diverse history. A history that is usually ignored or poorly understood not just by the world but by (sometimes) its own people. A certain British historian once referred to its past as darkness.

Well, I hope to be among those who hold a lantern to this so-called darkness of a history. Take my hand, as I guide you down the pathways of Africa’s supposed night covered past. Allow me to show you her numerous and diverse people, their perspectives, religion, and their stories.

Hosted by David Ibanda( a devoted student of African history with a penchant for Corny jokes)

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Those Who Came Before Us

The Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara: The Kubandwa Religion

January 03, 2022 • David • Season 1 • Episode 11

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Before the arrival of Christianity and Islam, the religion of Kubandwa was an East African spirit possession faith practiced by many groups in the great lakes region. It is still practiced today to a much smaller degree and has a terrible/unfair reputation of witchcraft like other indigenous african religions. In this episode, I discuss what the religion must’ve looked like in Pre-colonial Bunyoro. We will talk about what it actually is, what it meant to people and how followers became mediums.

References

John H. Beattie, Initiation into the Cwezi Spirit possession cult in Bunyoro (African Studies, Vol 16, Issue 3, 1957)

John H. Beattie, John Middleton, "Spirit Mediumship and Society in Africa "( London: Routledge Library Editions, 1969)

Yk Bamunoba, "Diviners for the Abagabe", (Uganda Journal Vol 29, Issue 1, 1965)

Shane Doyle, "Cwezi Kubandwa Debate: Gender, Hegemony and Pre-Colonial Religion in Bunyoro, Western Uganda", Journal of the International African Institute, Vol. 77, No. 4 (Cambridge University Press Africa: 2007)

Yolamu Ndoleriire Nsamba, "Mystique In Sovereigns’ Headgear "(Wandsbeck: Reach Publishers, 2016)

Cecilia Pennacini, "Religious mobility and body language in Kubandwa possession cults", (Journal of Eastern African Studies Vol 3 No 2 , 2009)

Paul Van Thiel, "Some Preliminary Notes On The Music Of The Cwezi Cult In Ankole" (Western Uganda) (African Music, Vol. 5, No. 3 (1973/1974))

Music

Ankole, West Uganda

Ekitaaguriro - Iru
Reeba, mandwa - Hima
Ebizooba - Hima

Sound of Africa Series

Okuturukya Omukama
Ntajamerwa