Poetry taken back in the days
Joseph Kagimu, armed with a local drum known as engalabi in Luganda, and wearing a kanzu was the night’s first act. PHOTO by Dominic Bukenya
What you need to know:
The sound provided by MILEGE band was an icing on the occasion that started at 8pm and ended at 11pm
“In our maiden days, our fore fathers used to tell stories by the fire side in the evenings. These stories, often interesting, had a message that they passed on to the children,” says Paul Opio, an elderly man in his sixties. Such stories were locally referred to as Engero in Luganda dialect.
It was in the same spirit that a group of youth gathered at the Uganda Museum on Tuesday evening to not only express their spoken word talent, but appreciate the old age norm of gathering around the fire side. The night dubbed “Engero”, was set around a bonfire, where different poets and musicians presented poems, songs and stories centered on an African or traditional theme. The idea was based on how our ancestors used to tell stories around a fire.
A traditional affair
The opening act by Joseph Kagimu set the night rolling. Kagimu, armed with a local drum known as engalabi in Luganda, and wearing a kanzu warmed his way to the audience.
The poets, all clad in traditional African wear, kanzus for the men and an element of kitengye for the women, each took turns to spit their lyrics into the crowd. But perhaps the most inspiring and exciting poem came from Winnie Apio, who recited I am A Woman in which she went on to define how she wants to be treated. In her poem, she talks about how God took the best rib from man to create for him a suitable companion. She gave it a fitting close with the lines “I am a woman, and if you are lucky, maybe, baby, I can be your woman,” much to the excitement of the crowd.
The sound provided by MILEGE band was an icing on the occasion that started at 8pm and ended at 11pm.
