Bukaala Twesitule Troupe - Omwenge - The Singing Wells project

Their Leader is Charles Ikula and they were started in 1991, with over 200 members, 50 of whom are active. Musical style is Baganda. Group performs in different areas, mainly engaged in advocation and sensitization on social awareness and theatre.

Their instruments include:

Amadinda: Xylophone
Endingidi: Tube Fiddle
Emlwanzi: Pan Flute
Adungu: Harp
Entongoli: Bow Lyre
Drums:
Engalabi (Long drum, longest)
Empuny (Main Drum)
Entujza, 2 medium drums
Namunjoloba, 2 small drums, one pitched very high and one lower

Their members include:

Ronald Muwonge (drums and dances)
Denis Kasasira (long drums)
Samson Basoga (Tube Fiddle)
Isabirye Basoga (15 slab xylophone)
Jane Babirye (lead vocalist)

This specific song is about how the local brew is made in stages and sets out each procedure to produce the brew.

The Bukaala Twesitule group performed 4 songs and two magic moments, which they referred to as ‘Magic Dancing’ and ‘Magic Singing’:

Bana Uganda Banange: It is about a particular brand of beer called Senator Lager. It has contributed to the local economic development because it uses ingredients grown in Uganda. The Lead vocalist is Jane Babirye.

Abag’ageno: Talks about HIV and the factors influencing the spread of HIV and how the community can come together to deal with it. Very tragic song telling the story of deaths with man sobbing at one point. The Lead vocalist is Jane Babirye.

Akabira (Worship Song): Means a small forest where spirits tend to run, deep in the trees and high in the mountains. But they are not always well cared for and they then tend to cause havoc with the rest of family members (please note similar story to song we heard about impact of deforestation on spirits. Lead vocalist this song is Hellen Flavia The back-up vocalist for this song was Diana Natero. And the wild dancer was Lubowa Bashir.

Omwenge (a local brew): This is about how the local brew is made in stages and sets out each procedure to produce the brew.

Magic Moment: No vocals, and we called it ‘Magic Dancing’
Magic Moment: We called this ‘Magic Singing’

James Isabirye says of this group, that “it is from Rakai, which is a very significant area in Uganda. This is where HIV Aids was first recognized in Uganda. Because of the culture, if someone passed away, the brother had to marry the widow and take care of her immediately. This was devastating for the spread of Aids because the surviving spouses, who were often infected, immediately partners with another and passed on the disease. In late 90’s you could only find little children and very old people because the disease spread so fast before it was detected. It is only now that we have adults again. As you noticed, this is a young group, with a huge future. They are moving from amateur to professional with a lot of energy. The lead singer is a wonderful performer, and really up and coming and will only get better. They also have great instrumentalists. They really gave a show today with lots of performers – but to these cultures folk songs demand actions and drama. If you give them an open space they will bring much more drama to the equation.”

Location: Kyambogo University, Uganda
Recorded: 24th November 2013.