Kabaka

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Kabaka is the title of the king of the Buganda Empire , which lies within Uganda . Alternative title of the Kabaka is Ssabataka .

The Buganda Empire is traditionally ruled by two kings: a purely spiritual being and a human. The supernatural king, represented by the royal drums Mujaguzo , always exists unchanged and thus ensures that there is a king in Buganda at all times. As usual for kings, the king embodied in the drums mujaguzo has a palace, officials, servants and guards. The human heir to the throne must perform special rites on the royal drums in order to become king of the Bughanda kingdom. With the royal drums, the birth of a new member of the royal family is officially announced, as is the death of the reigning king.

Music was central to the ceremonies and entertainment at the Buganda court. In addition to drums, the palace orchestra also included spar xylophones such as the amadinda , the flute endere , the bowls, lyre, endongo and pumpkin rattle . At the beginning of the 20th century the fiddle endingidi was added. The bow harp player ennanga held a prominent position . He was one of the few employed musicians who lived permanently in the palace. As the personal harpist of the Kabaka, he carried the honorary title of mulanga and had the task of informing the ruler of the news in his country and of conveying news and complaints from the citizens dressed in song form.

On April 4, 1971, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II succeeded his late father Edward Mutesa II after his burial in the Kasubi tombs and received the official title of the kingdom - Ssabataka . He was only 16 years old, which is why the coronation was not carried out. When the prince came of age, the political unrest in Idi Amin's years did not allow him to be crowned as a Kabaka, as the constitution prescribes. He remained Ssabataka until July 31, 1993 when circumstances allowed him to be crowned Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda. Unlike his predecessors, who became Kabaka at a young age, which led to the country being administered by ministers, Kabaka Mutebi II had no ministers, since the empire would have been incapable of acting without Lukiiko (parliament), which the ministers would have had to set up was.

Kabakas from Buganda

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Damascus Kafumbe: The Kabaka's Royal Musicians of Buganda-Uganda: Their Role and Significance During Ssesekaba Sir Edward Frederick Muteesa II's Reign (1939-1966). (Master thesis) Florida State University 2006, p. 30