Repertory: Repertory works may be named after a featured instrument, or its place of origin. Some pieces are drawn from specific people-such as the Acholi who live in Northern Uganda and southern Sudan, or the Baganda whose centuries-Old kingdom Buganda is rooted in the court and the king was a primary patron of culture. Other pieces are suites that may link rhythms and phrases from multiple regions. Playing with differences and similarities to combine sounds and movements in new ways. To empower our children and make a change in this world, nothing is better than letting their voices be heard. The performers who appear on this website are the young faces of Africa, the composers of our stories, the leaders of tomorrow and the makers of our memories in this new century.

 

Orunyege-Ntogoro: Originally a courtship dance of the Banyoro and Batoro people of south-west Uganda,this exuberant and demanding dance gives everyone a chance to show their individual talents. In the past, young men and women would be brought together in front of the community to choose their future mates.This ceremony was a critical event, especially for the boys, since poor dancers risked remaining bachelors.The girls were expected to dance well in return exhibiting spunk, kindness, style and grace.

 

Bwola dance: Bwola is considered the most important dance of the Acholi people in the Kitgum region of northern Uganda. Originally, it was performed only on the orders of the chief. All the men carry small drums and play intricate rhythms while dancing at the same time. The movements of their feet match rhythmically with the beating of their drums. The dance has a definitive leader who moves independently, sets the tempo, and leads the dance. He is considered a very important person and traditionally was among the few people the community allowed to wear a leopard skin with feathers on their heads.

Bakisimba dance: This is a traditional dance of the court of Buganda; the largest ethnic group of Uganda. Originally performed only by women, it celebrates the creation of banana wine for the king. The drummer’s rhythms and the dancer’s movements mirror the kings words of thanks speaking "Abakisimba, bebakiwomya" meaning, those who planted the banana, made it very sweet. Reflecting his increasingly celebratory mood after taking the local glue fermented from the bananas. Therefore, this makes the dance a royal dance which is performed to only royal people from the palace.

 

Mwaga Dance: Originally a surcurmucision dance of the bagisu people of eastern Uganda and western Kenya. This exiting dance is performed by the bagisu communities. It is exhibited when young boys are being transformed from childhood into real men. Every single boy has to go through a cultural procedure of a knife cutting; i.e" surcurmucision". This is done every even year, i.e 2000, 2002 etc. And after surcurmucision, that dance is performed to honor  the ceremony.

 

Ekitaguriro dance: The nomadic Banyankole of western Uganda cherish the cattle they tend for a living and are sometimes ribbed by their countrymen for their great devotion. This dance praises the long horned cattle of Ankole and Rwanda - found nowhere else on earth. The dancers imitate the sounds, rhythm and the movements of the graceful cows. Sticks are also used to herd the cattle that are featured in the dance.

 

Kinyarwanda dance: Uganda is bordered to the south-west by Rwanda and this suite is named for the language spoken there. It begins with Rwemeza. Drums of the banyarwanda royalty played as a processional to announce the king’s entrance to the court. Amalaba (dances) were then performed.

 

Amaggunju dance: Once upon a time, the kingdom of Buganda was ruled by a child of two years old, known as Daudi Chwa. In Buganda kingdom, a king never cries, and we all know that children at that age tend to cry a lot. Therefore, the uncles and aunties had to come in and make all sorts of movements to entertain the young king by jumping up and down. There after, the king ordered his subjects to always perform those movements which later transformed into a royal dance to be performed to the royal family.