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Kasubi Tombs A Home Of Great Traditional Culture
he Kasubi tombs, burial grounds/royal tombs of the
traditionally known as Kabaka’s of Buganda, and the site
Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga, a is an example of traditional
religious place in the Buganda Ganda Architecture and living
kingdom is situated on a hill traditions. The palace was built
within Kampala-Uganda. The tombs by Kabaka Mutesa 1 in 1882 and
are a burial place for the four according to culture, each king
previous Kings of Buganda known was supposed to be buried at a
traditionally as Kabakas, and are separate site when he died and a
situated five kilometers away royal shrine to house his jawbone
from Kampala city center on which was believed to contain his
Kasubi hill. Historically, spirit was to be established at
Buganda Kabaka’s have always another site. Mutesa 1 was the
built their palaces on startegic 35th King of Buganda (1856-1884)
hills inorder to find easy ways and the first king to be buried
to escape during an invasion and in his former palace (the Tombs)
to control the major roads to the at Kasubi without removing his
palace. jawbone. Mwanga II who succeeded
his father Mutesa in 1884 was the
The Baganda belong to the Bantu second king to be buried at the
speaking people, one of Uganda’s Tombs after his remains were
ethnic groups. According to brought back from exile
tradition, the first Kabaka of (seychelles islands) in 1910. His
Buganda was Kintu who is said to son Daudi Chwa II succeeded him
have come with his wife Nambi. at the age of one year in 1896
Kabaka Kintu is said not to have and ruled until his death in
died but to have disappeared into 1939. He too was buried in the
a forest at Magonga. Tombs. Daudi Chwa II was
succeeded by his son Edward
The Kasubi tombs are one of the Mutesa II and the then governor
of the Uganda protectorate. He other ritual purposes.
died in 1966 in exile (London) At Kasubi and all other royal
and his remains were brought back tombs, there is an area behind a
and buried in the Tombs in 1971. back-cloth curtain known as
kibira (forest)where the real
The Kasubi Tombs is an important Tombs of the kabakas are and
Burial site for the Kabakas of where certain royal ceremonies
Buganda because old traditions are performed like the new moon
where broken at the site when the ceremony and the consultations of
Kabakas were buried together. the mediums. Infront of the
Each prince and princess who is a curtain, there are raised
decendant of the four Kabakas is platforms corresponding to the
also buried at Kasubi behind the position of each kabakas tomb
main shrine. The site is behind the curtain.Entrance to
important as a cemetry of the the “Secret forest” is anly
royalty of the Buganda kingdom. limited to the widows of the
Kabakas, the the royal family,
The tombs comprise of the the Buganda Prime-minister
Bujjabukula (Gatehouse) a (katikkiro) and the
beautifully built gate, which is Nalinya(kabakas official sister).
the entrance of the site. Its
constructed with wooden columns The Kasubi Tombs are adorned with
and a wall made of wooden woven royal regalia like spears,
reeds.The gate leeds to a small drums,medals, photographs and
courtyard with a circular shields of the kabakas buried
house-House of Royal drums there.The structure is supported
(Ndoga-obukaba) where the drums by wooden poles wrapped in
are kept. In the main courtyard, backcloth and the floor covered
there are several houses built with grass and palm leaves mats.
for the widows of the kabakas and Backcloth traditionaly popular
for clothing is a fabric made trench.Naggalabi coronation site,
from the soft back of a fig tree Buddo where the kabakas of
(Ficus natalensis) and has a Buganda have been crowned for the
strong ritual importance to the past 700 years.Wamala Tomb the
people of Uganda. Thatching of secret burial place of Kabaka
the roof is carried out by Suuna II (1836-1856) who had 148
members of the Ngeye clan wives and 218 Children. Namasole
(colobus monkey clan) ant the Kanyange Tombs where the mother
decorators of the poles are from to Kabaka Suuna II was burried.
the Leopard clan, who are the Ssezibwa falls a spiritual place
only people allowed to do this for the kings and Baagalayaze
work.Pregnant women and widows Nnamasole Tombs where the mother
are not allowed to enter the the of Kabaka Mwanga II was burried.
building while its being thatched
since this is believed to cause The magnificent features of the
leakage.Similary, the thatchers Kasubi tombs represent the rich
are not supposed to haver sexual traditions and heritage of the
intercourse during the thatching Baganda people. People believe
period.The great roof is that every persons death has a
supported by 52 rings, which spiritual origin and there is
represent the 52 clans in the interraction between the living
Ganda culture. and the dead. The cultures of the
Baganda lie in the Magnificent
The Baganda cultures can also be Tombs, where the bodies and
experienced at sites like spirits of their fore fathers,
Katereke prison where the king rulers and traditions lie to
imperisoned his brothers in a date.
About the Author:
Jackie Kisibo is an author in Africa, and her articles can be found on http://www.hotelsinuganda.com Uganda Hotels , Kampala Hotels and Accommodation http://www.aboutuganda.com Uganda safaris and tours guide
Read more articles by: Jackie Kisibo
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