By Victor Turinawe
The team from the Banyankole tribe emerged as winners of the 2024 Uganda Christian University, UCU Bishop Barham University College, at Kabale. The cultural gala which took place on Saturday 19th October was meant to celebrate the beautiful diversity of African culture in Uganda.
The event that happened at the campus premises on Rugarama Hill in Northern Division Kabale Municipality, had three competitors including the Bakiga, Banyankole and Bafumbira. The Baganda and Bakonjo were absent in this year’s edition
The competitions that started at 2pm saw the participants compete in seven items including cultural dance, office wear, talent show, folk song, modern wear, skit or composition games and cultural wear.
According to the results declared by the Judges and adjudicators, the Banyankole emerged as winners of the day with a total of 92 points, maximising their scores in office wear, cultural dance, cultural wear, folk song and talent show. The Bakiga came second with a total of 91 points and the Bafumbira the last with a total of 87 points.
According to Viola Nahabwe who was one of the day’s judges, the students put a good effort in as they rehearsed and prepared for it and brought out interesting and educative content in their performances. “In the fashion show item, all of them appeared innovative and creative, and in cultural wear, the culture was clearly described and reflected,” she said.
In her address to the audience, the Academic Registrar of UCU, BBUC Dr Joy Asiimwe Turyamwijuka said that culture can be seen in materials such as spears and baskets,in languages both traditional and modern, in the way people live and the environment they live in. She added, “Creativity such as dressing code shows one’s values, economic status, profession and ability. Culture is beautiful and diverse. I call upon you to be vigilant because the modern culture is overtaking traditional culture yet it lacks an element of decency.”
