Discovering the Melodious Folk Music of Uganda with Emmanuel Katto

Emmanuel Katto Uganda

There are more than 30 different tribes in Uganda. The Nilots and the Bantu tribes are mostly found in the north and south of the country. Tribal music in Uganda is majorly ceremonial in nature. It is performed by well-trained and professional tribesmen at special occasions such as weddings, initiation ceremonies, and royal feasts. The main focus of tribal music in Uganda is dancing in the community. Call-and-response singing is common for conveying important messages to people. I’m Emmanuel Katto a Uganda based local journalist, who mainly collects the latest stories and happenings of Uganda and Africa as a whole, on different domains and headlines. Today I will tell you some of the interesting things regarding the folk music of Uganda.

Uganda's folk music, which is primarily composed of drums, is an integral part of everyday life in the country, where the Baganda people are the predominant ethnic group. It is composed of different rhythms and flow, for different occasions and situations, and the role of women is quite prominent here. Folk music is instrumental in preparing children for various aspects of life, such as fishing, hunting, agriculture, and marriage. Most folk music genres in Uganda are pentatonic in nature, and dances accompany rituals and ceremonies. In my (Emmanuel Katto) personal view, folk or traditional music is the mirror of society, which connects people with the originality and essence of their culture. Below are the types of folk or traditional music of Uganda.