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| Bunyoro rose to power by controlling a number of the holiest shrines in the region, the lucrative ] of Lake Albert, and having the highest quality of ] in the region. This made it the strongest military and economic power in the Great Lakes area. | Bunyoro rose to power by controlling a number of the holiest shrines in the region, the lucrative ] of Lake Albert, and having the highest quality of ] in the region. This made it the strongest military and economic power in the Great Lakes area. | ||
| Bunyoro began to decline in the late eighteenth century due to internal divisions. ] seized ] and ] regions from Bunyoro at the end of the century. In |
Bunyoro began to decline in the late eighteenth century due to internal divisions. ] seized the ] and ] regions from Bunyoro at the end of the century. In the 1830s, the large province of ] separated, claiming much of the lucrative salt works. To the south ] and ] were both growing rapidly, taking over some of the smaller kingdoms that had been Bunyoro's vassals. | ||
| Thus by the mid-nineteenth century Bunyoro (also known as '''Unyoro''' at the time) was a far smaller state, |
Thus by the mid-nineteenth century Bunyoro (also known as '''Unyoro''' at the time) was a far smaller state, however it was still wealthy due to the income generated from controlling the lucrative trade routes over Lake Victoria and linking to the coast of the ]. Bunyoro especially profited from the trade in ]. It was, however, continually imperiled by the now potent Buganda (also and still known as Uganda,) which greatly desired taking the trade routes for itself. A long struggle ensued with both arming themselves with European weapons. As a result the capital was moved from ] to the less vulnerable ]. | ||
| In July 1890 agreement the entire region north of Lake Victoria was given to Great Britain. In 1894 Great Britain declared the region its protectorate. King ] strenuously resisted the efforts of Great Britain, in an alliance with ], to take control of his kingdom. However, in 1899 Kaberega was captured and exiled to the ] and Bunyoro was annexed to the ]. Because of their resistance a portion of the Bunyoro kingdom's territory was given to Buganda and ]. | In July 1890 agreement the entire region north of Lake Victoria was given to Great Britain. In 1894 Great Britain declared the region its protectorate. King ] strenuously resisted the efforts of Great Britain, in an alliance with ], to take control of his kingdom. However, in 1899 Kaberega was captured and exiled to the ] and Bunyoro was annexed to the ]. Because of their resistance a portion of the Bunyoro kingdom's territory was given to Buganda and ]. | ||
Revision as of 09:02, 18 October 2010
| Bunyoro-Kitara KingdomBunyoro Kitara Kingdom | |
|---|---|
Flag | |
| Motto: FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY | |
| Anthem: UnknownRoyal anthem: Unknown | |
.png) Location of Bunyoro (red)in Uganda (pink) | |
| Capitaland largest city | Hoima |
| Official languages | Nyoro |
| Ethnic groups | Nyoro/Banyoro |
| Demonym(s) | Bunyoro or Banyoro |
| Government | Constitutional monarchy |
| • Omukama | Solomon Iguru I |
| • Prime Minister | Yabezi Kiiza |
| Consolidation 16th century | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18,578 km (7,173 sq mi) |
| • Water (%) | 17 |
| Population | |
| • Estimate | 1,4 million |
| Currency | Ugandan Shilling (UGX) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 |
| Calling code | 256 |
Bunyoro is a kingdom of western Uganda and was one of the most powerful kingdoms of East Africa from the 16th-19th century. It is ruled by the Omukama of Bunyoro. The current ruler is Solomon Iguru I, 27th Omukama (king) of Bunyoro-Kitara.
The people of Bunyoro are also known as Nyoro or Banyoro (singular: Munyoro) (Banyoro means "People of Bunyoro"); the language spoken is Nyoro (also known as Runyoro). Traditional economies revolved around big-game hunting of elephants, lions, leopards, and crocodiles, but are now agriculturalists who raise bananas, millet, cassava, yams, cotton, tobacco, and coffee.
The people are primarily Christian.
History
The kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara was established following the collapse of the Empire of Kitara in the 16th century.
At its height, Bunyoro-Kitara controlled almost the entire region between Lake Victoria, Lake Edward, and Lake Albert. One of many small states in the Great Lakes region the earliest stories of the kingdom having great power come from the Rwanda area where there are tales of the Bunyoro raiding the region under a prince named Cwa around 1520. The power of Bunyoro then faded until the mid seventeenth century when a long period of expansion began, with the empire dominating the region by the early eighteenth century.
Bunyoro rose to power by controlling a number of the holiest shrines in the region, the lucrative Kibiro saltworks of Lake Albert, and having the highest quality of metallurgy in the region. This made it the strongest military and economic power in the Great Lakes area.
Bunyoro began to decline in the late eighteenth century due to internal divisions. Buganda seized the Kooki and Buddu regions from Bunyoro at the end of the century. In the 1830s, the large province of Toro separated, claiming much of the lucrative salt works. To the south Rwanda and Nkore were both growing rapidly, taking over some of the smaller kingdoms that had been Bunyoro's vassals.
Thus by the mid-nineteenth century Bunyoro (also known as Unyoro at the time) was a far smaller state, however it was still wealthy due to the income generated from controlling the lucrative trade routes over Lake Victoria and linking to the coast of the Indian Ocean. Bunyoro especially profited from the trade in ivory. It was, however, continually imperiled by the now potent Buganda (also and still known as Uganda,) which greatly desired taking the trade routes for itself. A long struggle ensued with both arming themselves with European weapons. As a result the capital was moved from Masindi to the less vulnerable Mparo.
In July 1890 agreement the entire region north of Lake Victoria was given to Great Britain. In 1894 Great Britain declared the region its protectorate. King Kabarega of Bunyoro strenuously resisted the efforts of Great Britain, in an alliance with Buganda, to take control of his kingdom. However, in 1899 Kaberega was captured and exiled to the Seychelles and Bunyoro was annexed to the British Empire. Because of their resistance a portion of the Bunyoro kingdom's territory was given to Buganda and Toro.
The country was put under the control of Bugandan administrators. The Bunyoro revolted in 1907; the revolt was put down, and relations improved somewhat. After the region remained loyal to Great Britain in World War I a new agreement was made in 1934 giving the region more autonomy.
Today Bunyoro remains one of the four constituent kingdoms of Uganda.
Bunyoro Kitara Today
During the regime of several dictators such as Idi Amin, the Kingdoms where forcefully disbanded, and where in the time from 1967 to 1994 banned.
In 1993 the Kingdom was re-established and in 1995 the new constitution of Uganda was made, allowing and recognizing, the Kingdoms.
The current Kingdom covers the districts of Hoima district, Masindi district and Kibale district.
The total population of the Kingdom is about between 800.000 and 1.400.000 (depending on sources) living in 250,000-350,000 households. 96% of the population live in rural areas, and only 1% of the population uses electricity for lighting and cooking. More than 92% of the population are poor, and has earnings more than half that of the Ugandan national average, and about 50% of the population is illiterate.
The economic potential in the region is very large, with the Kibiro saltworks, and the possibility of large oil, gas, iron ore and precious stone. Recently the Heritage Gas and Oil Company conducted surveys in the area, indicating the possibility of large crude oil deposits in the area. The area also has large rainforest's with abundance of hardwoods like mahogany, ironwood and others
The Omukama and the other leaders of the area, are working to create a university in the area, that will work primarily with education persons for work with natural resources extraction, hopefully creating prosperity in the area. The university will also work to preserve the high level of cultural heritage in the area.
The King is in general doing a lot of work to improve the living standards of the people. Relations are maintained with the European community via the development organization Association of the Representatives of Bunyoro-Kitara. The King is also working to maintain the traditional bunyoro culture, but in the same time altering the honors of the kingdom in a way that they can be compared to western standards.
Traditions of Bunyoro
For royal traditions see Omukama of Bunyoro.
Relations
The Banyoro was a polygamous people when they could afford it. A lot of marriages did not last and it was quite common to be divorces. Due to this, payment to the girls family wasn't normally given until after several years of marriage.
Premarital sex was also very common.
All families was ruled by the eldest man of the family (Called Nyineka), and the village was run by a specially elected elder who was chosen by all the elders in the village and he was known as a mukuru w’omugongo.
Birth
A few months after birth the baby would be given a name. This was normally done by a close relative, but the father always had the final saying. Two names are given a personal name, and a traditional Mpako name.
The names was often related to specific features on the child, special circumstances around the birth of the child or as a way to honor a former family member. Most of the names are actual words of the Nyoro language
Death
Death was almost always believed to be the work of evil magic, ghosts or similar. Also gossiping was believe to magically affect or harm people.
Death was viewed as being a real being and when a person died to oldest woman of the household would clean the body, cut the hair and beard and close the eyes of the departed. The body was left for viewing and the women and children where allowed to cry/weep, but the men where not. In case the dead was the head of the household as mixture of grain (called ensigosigo) where put in his hand, and his children had to take a small part of the grain and eat it - thous passing on his (magical) powers.
After one or two days the body would be wrapped in cloth and a series of rites would be carried out. These are (only for heads of family):
- The nephew must take down the central pole of the hut and throw it in the middle of the compound
- He would also take the bow and eating-bowl of the departed and throw with the pole
- The fireplace in the hut would be extinguished
- A banana plant from the family plantation and a pot of water was also added to the pile
- The family rooster had to be caught and killed
- The main bull of the family's cattle had to be prevented from mating during the mourning (removal of testicles)
- After 4 days of mourning the bull would be killed and eating, thous ending the period of mourning
- The house of the departed would not be used again
The burial would not be done in the middle of the day, as it was considered dangerous for the sun to shine directly into the grave. As the body was carried to the grave the women where required to moderate their weeping, and it was forbidden to weep at the grave. Also pregnant women was banned from participating in the funeral as it was believed the negative magical forces related to burial would be to strong for the unborn child to survive.
After the burial the family would cut some of their hair off and put into the grave. After the burial all participants washed themselves very thoroughly, as it was believed that the negative magical forces could harm crops.
If the departed had a grudge or other unfinished business with another family, his mouth and anus would be stuffed with clay, to prevent the ghost from haunting.
A Bunyoro Year
A typical year in Bunyoro is divided into 12 months and it is quite clear what work are to be done these months:
- January (Igesa), there would be harvesting of millet
- February (Nyarakarwa) they did not have much work to do
- March (Ijubyamiyonga) fields were prepared for planting simsim
- May (Rwensisezere) there was not much work
- July (ishanya maro), women would prepare fields for millet
- August (Ikokoba) was the months of burning grass in the millet fields
- September (Isiga) was for planting millet
- November (Rwensenene) was named after grass hoppers
- October (ijuba) was a month of weeding
- December (Nyamiganura or Katuruko) was a month of rejoicing and festivities as there was little work to occupy the people
References
- Facts about the Kingdom, http://www.scribd.com/doc/35682709/2010-01-21-Bunyoro-Kitara-Kingdom-General-Information
- Mwambutsya, Ndebesa, "Pre-capitalist Social Formation: The Case of the Banyankole of Southwestern Uganda." Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review 6, no. 2; 7, no. 1 (June 1990 and January 1991): 78-95.
- Uganda Constitution of 1967 http://www.buganda.com/const67.htm
- Traditional Rulers (Restitution of Assets and Properties) Act 1993 http://www.ulii.org/ug/legis/consol_act/troaapa1993622/
- http://www.uconnect.org/bunyoro/index.html 1997 projections. No current number exists
- Numbers supplied by the Ugandan Ministry of Interior
- http://www.ugandatravelguide.com/bunyoro-culture.html
External links
- Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom
- NGO that works specific in the Bunyoro-Kitara region of Uganda. Has close connections to the Omukama
- Royal Coat of Arms of Bunyoro-Kitara
- More on the Bunyoro Culture