“Our rich African heritage which manifests itself in music,”Museveni launches traditional album

President Yoweri Museveni has described the content in the traditional album as one that promotes Africa’s rich heritage.

On November 07, 2022, President Museveni officially launched a traditional music album titled “Omufunga Eizooba”, at the  State House in Entebbe.

The album has songs like Abagorola-nshoonga, the cattle of the King of Kookyi, Kamushwaaga among others.

The President said Africa has everything from wealth creation, to rich language, to the strong culture of exogamy and strong patrilineal families and to the beauty of skin and hair.

He said that the African population, currently has 1.3 billion people and the most ancient portions of the human race, 4.5 million years old, and four nations according to linguistic classifications.

“Our rich African heritage which manifests itself in music, dances, literature, and songs, should be fully documented & preserved to benefit future generations.” he stated

He hailed the content as excellent with contemporary social or political issues

The President also applauded his daughter Natasha, her aide Ataho and the musicians for this contribution to the saving of the African  heritage and Uganda’s identity.

“On account of my love for this indigenous music, my daughter Natasha tells me that I would sing to them some tunes such as Abagorola-nshoonga, the cattle of the King of Kookyi, Kamushwaaga. I, therefore, thank Natasha, Anyine, Ataho for helping me to preserve this heritage.” he stated

Adding that “Many of these songs inform us of the elements of beauty that is appreciated by the Banyankore. You heard of Ngaanzi, the beautiful light-skinned woman. However, in the hierarchy of beauty, it was Mbiindi or Nkyerengye, dark-skinned women, that were appreciated even more.” he said

The head of Heritage Foundation  Natasha Karugire thanked the president and the First Lady for being at the forefront of promoting culture.

“Growing up, my siblings and I always listened to all songs that Mzee kept. We would be at the dining table with Mzee and mama and Mzee would often spontaneously break into singing some songs,” Natasha said.

The Omufunga Ezooba traditional music album put together by the Heritage Foundation comprises of 16 songs, composed many years ago but had remained undeveloped to the unsettled colonial times.

They include; 1. Ente y’omwooro, 2. Amabaare, 3. Tu’ mutwe, 4. Abamuyogoore, 5. Lhigiro, 6. Enanga y’orurembo, 7. Ente z’abuhweju, 8. Omufunga izooba, 9. Rugaiha, 10. Abantu ba Nshaara, 11. Bamagara, 12. Rwakakaiga, 13. Abasonga, 14. Akabungo, 15. Bari’Owabo and 16. Bakakwata.

The ceremony was attended by among others ministers; Frank Tumwebaze (Agriculture Animal Industries and Fisheries), Alice Kaboyo (Luwero Triangle), the United Nations Resident Coordinator Suzan Namondo, members of Parliament and service chiefs.