Culture of Uganda 1486152 220981991 2008-06-22T14:36:46Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Culture of Uganda}} The '''culture of Uganda''' is made up of a complex and diverse range of ethnic groups. [[Lake Kyoga]] forms the northern boundary for the [[Bantu]]-speaking peoples, who dominate much of [[east Africa|east]], [[central Africa|central]] and [[southern Africa]]. In Uganda they include the Baganda and several other tribes. In the north live the [[Lango]] and the [[Acholi]], who speak [[Nilotic languages]]. To the east are the [[Iteso]] and [[Karamojong]], who speak a Nilotic language. A few [[Pygmies]] live isolated in the [[rainforests]] of western Uganda. ==Music== {{main|music of Uganda}} Each ethnic group has its musical history; songs are passed down from generation to generation. ''Ndigindi'' and ''entongoli''([[lyre]]s), ''ennanga'' ([[harp]]), ''amadinda'' ([[xylophone]], see [[Baganda Music]]) and ''[[lukeme]]'' (lamellophone ("thumb piano")) are commonly played instruments. An Acholi, [[Okot p'Bitek]], is one of Uganda's most famous writers of folklore, [[satirical]] [[poem]]s and [[song]]s. His book ''Song of Lawino (1966)'' describes the stories told in Acholi songs. == Religion == [[Christian]]s make up 85.1% of Uganda's population.{{ref|ciafactbook}} There were sizeable numbers of [[Sikhs]] and [[Hindu]]s in the country until [[Asians]] were expelled in 1972 by Idi Amin, following an alleged dream, although many are now returning following an invitation from the new president, [[Yoweri Museveni]]. There are also Muslims. == Sport == [[Image:Football in full swing (501839950).jpg|thumb|250px|Young boys playing a casual game of [[football (soccer)]] in [[Arua District]]]] The [[Uganda national football team]], nicknamed ''The Cranes'', is the national team of [[Uganda]] and is controlled by the [[Federation of Uganda Football Associations]]. They have never qualified for the [[Football World Cup|World Cup]] finals; their best finish in the [[African Nations Cup]] was second in [[1978 African Nations Cup|1978]]. [[Cricket]] is also one of major sports having made the [[Cricket World Cup|World Cup]] in 1975 as part of the [[East African cricket team]]. Furthermore Uganda also engages in basketball however this is not well developed, there is a national league played by college students and a few high school students. Uganda hosted and won a regional tournament in 2006 other countries that participated were Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Growing in populariy in the country is rugby, the National team has been growing stronger as evidenced by more frequent victories and close games against African powerhouses like Namibia and Morocco {{Uganda at the Commonwealth Games}} == Cuisine == {{main|Cuisine of Uganda}} The [[Cuisine]] of [[Uganda]] consists of traditional cooking with [[England|English]], [[Arab]] and [[Asia]]n (especially [[India]]n) influences. Like the cuisines of most countries, it varies in complexity, from the most basic, a [[starch]]y filler with a [[sauce]] of [[beans]] or [[meat]], to several-course meals served in upper-class homes and high-end restaurants. Main dishes are usually centred on a [[sauce]] or [[stew]] of [[groundnut]]s, [[bean]]s or [[meat]]. The starch traditionally comes from [[ugali]] ([[maize]] meal) or [[matoke]] (boiled and mashed green banana), in the South, or an ugali made from [[pear millet]] in the North. [[Cassava]], [[yam (vegetable)|yam]] and African [[sweet potato]] are also eaten; the more affluent include white (often called "Irish") [[potato]] and [[rice]] in their diets. [[Soybean]] was promoted as a healthy food staple in the 1970s and this is also used, especially for breakfast. [[Chapati]], an Asian flatbread, is also part of Ugandan cuisine. [[Chicken]], [[fish]] (usually fresh, but there is also a dried variety, reconstituted for stewing), [[beef]], [[goat]] and [[mutton]] are all commonly eaten, although among the rural poor there would have to be a good reason for slaughtering a large animal such as a goat or a cow and ''nyama'', (Swahili word for "meat") would not be eaten every day. Various [[Leaf vegetable|leafy greens]] are grown in Uganda. These may be boiled in the stews, or served as side dishes in fancier homes. [[Amaranth]] (''dodo''), [[nakati]], and ''borr'' are examples of regional greens. Ugali is cooked up into a thick [[porridge]] for breakfast. For main means, white flour is added to the saucepan and stirred into the ugali until the consistency is firm. It is then turned out onto a serving plate and cut into individual slices (or served onto individual plates in the kitchen). == Language == {{main|Languages of Uganda}} [[Uganda]] is ethnologically diverse, with at least forty languages in usage. [[Luganda]] is the most common language. English is the official language of Uganda, even though only a relatively small proportion of the population speaks it. Access to economic and political power is almost impossible without having mastered that language. The East African lingua franca [[Swahili language|Swahili]] is relatively widespread as a trade language and was made an official national language of Uganda in September 2005.{{ref|swahili}} Luganda, a language widespread in central Uganda, has been the official vernacular language in education for central Uganda for a long time.{{ref|luganda}} == See also == * [[Uganda National Cultural Centre]] * [[Seguku Women's Association (SeWA)]] == Notes and references == === Notes === # {{note|ciafactbook}} [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ug.html CIA Factbook Profile on Uganda] # {{note|swahili}} [http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2006/04/27/65146.html IPP (Tanzania)] ,[http://wwwa.britannica.com/nations/Uganda Britannica] # {{note|luganda}} Mukama 1991 === References === * Mukama, Ruth G. (1991) 'Recent developments in the language situation and prospects for the future', pp. 334-350 in ''Changing Uganda'', eds. Holger Bernt Hansen & Michael Twaddle, Fountain Publishers, 1991, ISBN * Trowell, Margaret; Wachsmann, Klaus (1953) Tribal Crafts of Uganda, Oxford, 1953 {{Uganda topics}} {{Africa topic|Culture of}} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Ugandan culture| ]] <!--Other languages-->