Those Who Came Before Us

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33 episodes
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Date created
2020/06/24
Latest episode
2026/02/01
Average duration
24 min.
Release period
47 days

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Most of us are aware of how badly represented Africa is. The continent is too often reduced to a number of degrading stereotypes. But Africa has a rich and diverse history. A history that is usually ignored or poorly understood not just by the world but by (sometimes) its own people. A certain British historian once referred to its past as darkness. Well, I hope to be among those who hold a lantern to this so-called darkness of a history. Take my hand, as I guide you down the pathways of Africa’s supposed night covered past. Allow me to show you her numerous and diverse people, their perspectives, religion, and their stories.  Hosted by David Ibanda( a devoted student of African history with a penchant for Corny jokes)  Follow podcast instagram page at @twcbupod.

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The Serpent Nature of Lake Victoria
2026/02/01
Send us a text The world’s second-largest freshwater lake is more than a body of water, it.. is a boundary. For those who lived along its shores, it was a place shaped by unseen presence. And at times, the lake was said to respond. Hope you enjoy this episode. Sources Kenny, Michael G. “The Powers of Lake Victoria.” Anthropos 72, no. 5/6 (1977): 717–33. McGrath, Andy. Beasts of the World. United States: Hangar 1 Publishing, 2022. Schoenbrun, David L.. The Names of the Python: Belonging in East Africa, 900 to 1930. United States: University of Wisconsin Press, 2021. Speke, John Hanning. Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile. 2nd ed. Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1863. Support the show
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So Near, Yet So Far: Turning Back at the Edge of Buganda (Hannington Part 5)
2025/12/03
Send us a text At Kagei the crucial port on the southern shore of Lake Victoria and the main gateway to Buganda by canoe, James Hannington finally steps free after his detention by King Romwa of Buzinza. But just as the last stretch of his journey comes into view, sickness overwhelms him. Too weak to continue , Hannington realizes his long-awaited mission is slipping away. Buganda lies just across the water from Kagei yet it has never felt more unreachable. Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/twcbuchannc Youtube Video Link: https://youtu.be/3Xzsp_FfSwU                                     Sources Ashe, Robert Pickering. Chronicles of Uganda. London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1894 Bennett, Norman Robert. Mirambo of Tanzania, 1840?-1884. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1971.Berry, Grinton . “Bishop Hannington and the Story of the Uganda Mission.” New York, Revell, 1908“Church Missionary Gleaner (afterwards C.M.S. Gleaner).” [London: Church Missionary Society, year varies]. https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Church_missionary_gleaner_afterw_C_M_S_g/5xkFAAAAQAAJ.Dawson, Edwin Collas. Lion-hearted: The Story of Bishop Hannington's Life, Told for Boys and Girls. United Kingdom: Seeley, 1890.Europeans in East Africa: Biographical Database. Accessed September 27, 2025. https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=4252.Hannington, James. Peril and Adventure in Central Africa. Being Illustrated Letters to the Youngsters at Home, by the Late Bishop H. With Illustrations from Original Sketches by the Bishop, and a Biographical Memoir. N.p.: London, 1886.Hartwig, Gerald W. “The Victoria Nyanza as a Trade Route in the Nineteenth Century.” The Journal of African History 11, no. 4 (1970): 535–52.Holmes, C. F. “Zanzibari Influence at the Southern End of Lake Victoria: The Lake Route.” African Historical Studies 4, no. 3 (1971): 477–503.Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography. Vol. 1, no. 2 (February 1879): 135–38. Report of the Evening Meetings, Session 1878–79.Michael, Charles D. James Hannington, Bishop and Martyr. London: SW Patridge & C. Ltd. 1910 Rockel, Stephen. Caravan Porters of the Nyika: Labour, Culture, and Society in Nineteenth Century East Africa. University of Toronto, 1997.Stock, Sarah Geraldina. The Story of Uganda and the Victoria Nyanza Mission. United Kingdom: Religious Tract Society, 1894.Support the show
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Canoes, Cloth, and Conflict: The Wary King Romwa (Hannington Part 4)
2025/11/20
Send us a text After a brutal trek across the interior, James Hannington and two fellow missionaries finally reach the lands of Romwa of Buzinza, exhausted, sick, and desperate for canoes to cross Lake Victoria. But with empty hands and no tribute to offer, they quickly learn that Romwa is no simple chief. He is a wary monarch guarding his sovereignty in a world where strangers mean danger… and nothing comes for free. Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/twcbuchannc Youtube Episode link: https://youtu.be/oII9e6b000c                                      Sources Ashe, Robert Pickering. Chronicles of Uganda. London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1894 Bennett, Norman Robert. Mirambo of Tanzania, 1840?-1884. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1971.Berry, Grinton . “Bishop Hannington and the Story of the Uganda Mission.” New York, Revell, 1908“Church Missionary Gleaner (afterwards C.M.S. Gleaner).” [London: Church Missionary Society, year varies]. https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Church_missionary_gleaner_afterw_C_M_S_g/5xkFAAAAQAAJ.Dawson, Edwin Collas. Lion-hearted: The Story of Bishop Hannington's Life, Told for Boys and Girls. United Kingdom: Seeley, 1890.Europeans in East Africa: Biographical Database. Accessed September 27, 2025. https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=4252.Hannington, James. Peril and Adventure in Central Africa. Being Illustrated Letters to the Youngsters at Home, by the Late Bishop H. With Illustrations from Original Sketches by the Bishop, and a Biographical Memoir. N.p.: London, 1886.Hartwig, Gerald W. “The Victoria Nyanza as a Trade Route in the Nineteenth Century.” The Journal of African History 11, no. 4 (1970): 535–52.Holmes, C. F. “Zanzibari Influence at the Southern End of Lake Victoria: The Lake Route.” African Historical Studies 4, no. 3 (1971): 477–503.Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography. Vol. 1, no. 2 (February 1879): 135–38. Report of the Evening Meetings, Session 1878–79.Michael, Charles D. James Hannington, Bishop and Martyr. London: SW Patridge & C. Ltd. 1910 Rockel, Stephen. Caravan Porters of the Nyika: Labour, Culture, and Society in Nineteenth Century East Africa. University of Toronto, 1997.Stock, Sarah Geraldina. The Story of Uganda and the Victoria Nyanza Mission. United Kingdom: Religious Tract Society, 1894.Support the show
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The Shadow of Mirambo: King on the Caravan Road (Hannington Part 3)
2025/11/12
Send us a text Frail and fevered, James Hannington reaches the caravan’s camp only to find them seized by dread. Beyond the horizon lies Mirambo’s domain, a land few dare to cross. His name moves through Central Africa like a storm: the warrior-king who defied the Arabs and reshaped the trade routes. When the caravan finally leaves Uyui without him, they are forced to turn back.  And when they return, Hannington rejoins them on the road, with the only path forward being through Mirambo's territory. Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/twcbuchannc Youtube video link: https://youtu.be/HAcydmsgWhM           Sources Ashe, Robert Pickering. Chronicles of Uganda. London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1894  Bennett, Norman Robert. Mirambo of Tanzania, 1840?-1884. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1971. Berry, Grinton . “Bishop Hannington and the Story of the Uganda Mission.” New York, Revell, 1908 “Church Missionary Gleaner (afterwards C.M.S. Gleaner).” [London: Church Missionary Society, year varies]. https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Church_missionary_gleaner_afterw_C_M_S_g/5xkFAAAAQAAJ. Dawson, Edwin Collas. Lion-hearted: The Story of Bishop Hannington's Life, Told for Boys and Girls. United Kingdom: Seeley, 1890. Europeans in East Africa: Biographical Database. Accessed September 27, 2025. https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=4252. Hannington, James. Peril and Adventure in Central Africa. Being Illustrated Letters to the Youngsters at Home, by the Late Bishop H. With Illustrations from Original Sketches by the Bishop, and a Biographical Memoir. N.p.: London, 1886. Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography. Vol. 1, no. 2 (February 1879): 135–38. Report of the Evening Meetings, Session 1878–79. Michael, Charles D. James Hannington, Bishop and Martyr. London: SW Patridge & C. Ltd. 1910  Rockel, Stephen. Caravan Porters of the Nyika: Labour, Culture, and Society in Nineteenth Century East Africa. University of Toronto, 1997. Stock, Sarah Geraldina. The Story of Uganda and the Victoria Nyanza Mission. United Kingdom: Religious Tract Society, 1894. Support the show
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Dust, Fever, and Bitter Water: Across the Ugogo Plains (Hannington Part 2)
2025/11/05
Send us a text The missionary James Hannington crosses the harsh Ugogo Plains of Tanzania’s Dodoma region, home of the Wagogo people. Battling wind, dust, and disease, his faith is tested in one of the most unforgiving stretches of the 19th-century East African caravan routes. Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/twcbuchannc Youtube video link: https://youtu.be/lKSKkwjdBJQ                      Sources Ashe, Robert Pickering. Chronicles of Uganda. London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1894 Bennett, Norman Robert. Mirambo of Tanzania, 1840?-1884. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1971.Berry, Grinton . “Bishop Hannington and the Story of the Uganda Mission.” New York, Revell, 1908“Church Missionary Gleaner (afterwards C.M.S. Gleaner).” [London: Church Missionary Society, year varies]. https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Church_missionary_gleaner_afterw_C_M_S_g/5xkFAAAAQAAJ.Dawson, Edwin Collas. Lion-hearted: The Story of Bishop Hannington's Life, Told for Boys and Girls. United Kingdom: Seeley, 1890.Europeans in East Africa: Biographical Database. Accessed September 27, 2025. https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=4252.Hannington, James. Peril and Adventure in Central Africa. Being Illustrated Letters to the Youngsters at Home, by the Late Bishop H. With Illustrations from Original Sketches by the Bishop, and a Biographical Memoir. N.p.: London, 1886.Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography. Vol. 1, no. 2 (February 1879): 135–38. Report of the Evening Meetings, Session 1878–79.Michael, Charles D. James Hannington, Bishop and Martyr. London: SW Patridge & C. Ltd. 1910 Rockel, Stephen. Caravan Porters of the Nyika: Labour, Culture, and Society in Nineteenth Century East Africa. University of Toronto, 1997.Stock, Sarah Geraldina. The Story of Uganda and the Victoria Nyanza Mission. United Kingdom: Religious Tract Society, 1894. Support the show
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Into the Interior: The Road to the Kingdom of Buganda (Hannington Part 1)
2025/10/29
Send us a text Today marks 140 years since the death of Bishop James Hannington of the Church Missionary Society, killed on his way to the Buganda Kingdom on October 29, 1885. What many don’t realize is that this was actually his second attempt to reach Buganda. By then, the kingdom had become a prime destination for European explorers, missionaries, and Arab traders especially after H. M. Stanley’s famous letter to Europe, declaring that the Kabaka of Buganda had invited missionaries. In this five-part series, I retrace Hannington’s journey. But this isn’t only his story. It’s also the story of the people he encountered, the lands he crossed, and the African voices too often reduced to the background in European writings. Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/twcbuchannc Part 2 arrives next week.                                                                     Sources Ashe, Robert Pickering. Chronicles of Uganda. London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1894 Berry, Grinton . “Bishop Hannington and the Story of the Uganda Mission.” New York, Revell, 1908“Church Missionary Gleaner (afterwards C.M.S. Gleaner).” [London: Church Missionary Society, year varies]. https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Church_missionary_gleaner_afterw_C_M_S_g/5xkFAAAAQAAJ.Dawson, Edwin Collas. Lion-hearted: The Story of Bishop Hannington's Life, Told for Boys and Girls. United Kingdom: Seeley, 1890.Europeans in East Africa: Biographical Database. Accessed September 27, 2025. https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=4252.Hannington, James. Peril and Adventure in Central Africa. Being Illustrated Letters to the Youngsters at Home, by the Late Bishop H. With Illustrations from Original Sketches by the Bishop, and a Biographical Memoir. N.p.: London, 1886.Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography. Vol. 1, no. 2 (February 1879): 135–38. Report of the Evening Meetings, Session 1878–79.Michael, Charles D. James Hannington, Bishop and Martyr. London: SW Patridge & C. Ltd. 1910 Rockel, Stephen. Caravan Porters of the Nyika: Labour, Culture, and Society in Nineteenth Century East Africa. University of Toronto, 1997.Stock, Sarah Geraldina. The Story of Uganda and the Victoria Nyanza Mission. United Kingdom: Religious Tract Society, 1894. Support the show
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Enkai: The God Who Changes Color
2025/09/30
Send us a text Enkai is the creator god of the Maasai people. He reveals himself in three colors: white, red, and black. Among them, red and black speak the loudest. Inspired by the oral traditions of the Maasai, this episode follows a lone Maasai woman as she offers a series of prayers, pleas for life, for mercy, for a child. Her voice becomes a bridge between the earthly and the divine. The story is told in a poetic, haiku-like form..sparse, symbolic, and intimate. Inspired by the oral traditions of the Maasai.   It’s an experiment.  Take your time. Listen. Feel it. I hope you enjoy. 😁 SOURCES Naomi Kipuri. Oral Literature of the Maasai. Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers, 1983. Dorothy L. Hodgson. The Church of Women: Gendered Encounters between Maasai and Missionaries. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2005. Jomo Kenyatta. Facing Mount Kenya. London: Secker and Warburg, 1938. Douglas E. Thomas. African Religions: Beliefs and Practices through History. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2018. Molefi Kete Asante and Ama Mazama, eds. Encyclopedia of African Religion. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, 2008. Project FUEL. Engai: God of the Maasai. Google Arts & Culture, n.d Support the show
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Dead Kings, Alive Wives: The Royal Women of Kasubi Tombs
2025/08/31
Send us a text The king may be gone but his wives remain. At the royal tombs of Kasubi, a small community of women continues to serve long after death.  They are the royal widows of Buganda: chosen from different clans, bound to the king in life… and still present in his death. From sweeping the tombs to preparing rituals, they carry out their roles with quiet dignity.  Not as relics of the past, but as part of a living royal tradition. Who are these women?  What do they remember?  And what does their presence mean for a kingdom that never forgets its kings? This episode is a journey through royal duty, legacy, and the sacred roles that still echo within the thatched walls of Kasubi. Sources!!!! Kiwanuka, M. S. M. A History of Buganda: From the Foundation of the Kingdom to 1900. London: Longman, 1971.Kodesh, Neil. Beyond the Royal Gaze: Clanship and Public Healing in Buganda. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2010. Ray, Benjamin C. Myth, Ritual, and Kingship in Buganda. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991. Roscoe, John. The Baganda: An Account of Their Native Customs and Beliefs. London: Macmillan and Co., 1911. Reid, Richard J. Political Power in Pre-Colonial Buganda: Economy, Society, and Warfare in the Nineteenth Century. Oxford: James Currey, 2002.Schiller, Laurence. "Royal Women of Buganda." The International Journal of African Historical Studies 10, no. 2 (1977): 171–188. https://doi.org/10.2307/217347. Wrigley, Christopher. Kingship and State: The Buganda Dynasty. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. CyArk. “Royal Tombs at Kasubi – 3D Explorer.” Accessed June 2025. https://cyark.org/projects/royal-tombs-at-kasubi/3D-ExplorerPersonal Interview with Catherine,  guide at Kasubi & Field Footage (Kasubi Tombs 2025)https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1022/Support the show
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Kasubi Tombs: Palace, Power, and the Afterlife of Buganda Kings
2025/07/31
Send us a text What if a king never truly dies?  In Buganda, power doesn’t end with a funeral. It transforms. Today, the royal palace is modern, more European in design than ancestral. But at the Kasubi Tombs, the old world still breathes. This episode traces how the king’s presence moved from palace to tomb, how his body became spirit, and how his home became sacred ground. We step inside a world where the roof was measured to the size of his head, where each clan held a cosmic role, and where power radiated from one man like the sun. This isn’t just history.  It’s memory made architecture.  And the king?...Well.  He never really left. Part 2: “Royal Widows” drops August 31st. Youtube Video Link: https://youtu.be/nHKlrbTjKnA Sources!!!! Kiwanuka, M. S. M. A History of Buganda: From the Foundation of the Kingdom to 1900. London: Longman, 1971.Kodesh, Neil. Beyond the Royal Gaze: Clanship and Public Healing in Buganda. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2010. Ray, Benjamin C. Myth, Ritual, and Kingship in Buganda. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991. Roscoe, John. The Baganda: An Account of Their Native Customs and Beliefs. London: Macmillan and Co., 1911. Reid, Richard J. Political Power in Pre-Colonial Buganda: Economy, Society, and Warfare in the Nineteenth Century. Oxford: James Currey, 2002. Wrigley, Christopher. Kingship and State: The Buganda Dynasty. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996. CyArk. “Royal Tombs at Kasubi – 3D Explorer.” Accessed June 2025. https://cyark.org/projects/royal-tombs-at-kasubi/3D-Explorer     8. Personal Interview with Catherine guide at Kasubi & Field Footage (Kasubi                 Tombs 2025) Support the show
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The Cannibal Night Dancer | African Book of Monsters, Episode 2
2025/02/14
Send us a text In this episode, I dive into the chilling legends of the cannibal night dancer said to feast on human flesh and embody the darkest fears of African folklore. But beyond the myths, how did accusations of cannibalism shape perceptions of morality, justice, and otherness? I explore the psychology behind these stories, the real-life consequences of being labeled a night dancer, and how law and society have dealt with those accused of such crimes. Is there truth behind the fear, or are these tales reflections of something deeper within us?  Intro - 0:00 - 2:01 Chapter 4 - “Cannibalism and African Zombies“ - 2:02 - 7:59 Chapter 5 - “Cannibalism, the Banality of Evil and Otherness” - 8:00 - 29:03 Chapter 6 - “Law, Crime and Justice” - 29:04 - 46:31 Conclusion - 46:32 - 48:42 Youtube video: https://youtu.be/Sq7-brM4ppo Local Motion Safaris - https://www.localmotionsafaris.com/ Sources A.B.C  Ocholla Ayayo, “Traditional ideology and ethics among the Southern Luo”, The Scandinavian Institute of African Studies Uppsala, 1976 Harry Johnston, “The Uganda Protectorate”, New York Dodd Mead & Company, 1904. Heike Behrand, “Resurrecting Cannibals: The Catholic Church, Witch-Hunts and the Production of Pagans in Western Uganda” James Currey, 2011 Isiko Alexander Paul, “An Expository Study of Witchcraft among the Basoga of Uganda” International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE) Volume 6, Issue 12, December 2019, PP 83-96  Isaac Christopher Lubogo, “Law of Witchcraft in Uganda Sorcery and Illuminati in Uganda, A Philosophical Discourse”, Suigeneris Publishers, 2022. John Beattie, “The Story of Mariya and Yozefu: A Case Study from Bunyoro, Uganda”, Africa: Journal of the International African Institute , pp. 105-115 (11pages), Cambridge University Press, 1964.  J.W. Nyakatura, “Anatomy of an African Kingdom” (New York: Nok Publishers, 1973)  Tibamanya Mwene Mushanga, “Criminal Homicide in Uganda: A Sociological study of violent deaths in Ankole,Kigezi and Toro Districts of Western Uganda”, 2013 Tom Kwanya, “Stigmatisation of Indigenous Knowledge: The Case of Night Running in Western Kenya” Journal of Religion in Africa Vol. 48, Fasc. 4 (2020), pp. 376-392 Okot P’Bitek, “Religion of the Central Luo” Kenya Literature Bureau University of Minnesota, 1978 Web Sources https://ugandaradionetwork.net/story/two-wanted-for-raping-suspected-night-dancer - Aisha Nalwanga https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/night-runners-kenya https://ugandansatheart.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/night-dancing-is-associated-with-cannibalism-not-mental-illness-ssalongo/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqHpE7wfnC0&ab_channel=SaltMediaUganda https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2015/august/pamela-newkirk-on-ota-benga-at-the-bronx-zoo.html - Ota Benga https://www.lynchburgmuseum.org/blog/2021/8/9/ota-benga-mbye-otabenga - Ota Benga https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/lifestyle/reviews-profiles/bukunja-the-infamous-land-of-night-dancers--1576818 https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1023716-eichmann-in-jerusalem#:~:text=Evil%20comes%20from%20a%20failure,is%20the%20banality%20of%20evil. - Hannah Arendt https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/hannah-arendts-lessons-for-our-times-the-banality-of-evil-totalitarianism-and-statelessness/ -Hannah Arendt https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1047829/proud-cannibal - Benedict Seruwu story Special thanks to Elizabeth Atuhaire and her neighbours for sharing with me their night dancer stories. Support the show
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Prankster Witch of the Night: The Night Dancer
2025/01/04
Send us a text In this debut episode of the African Book of Monsters series, we unravel the haunting legend of the night dancer. What makes these figures so feared across communities? And what deeper truths do their stories reveal about the societies they haunt? Join me for a blend of history, mythology, and cultural insight as I explore the night dancer’s place in African folklore. Whether you’re here for a thrill or to learn more about the unseen side of African traditions, this episode has something for you. Monster Entries will be updated on an occasional basis.  Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast for more on Africa's untold history. Youtube video link : https://youtu.be/Ccxfp2BNlvc Sources Isiko Alexander Paul, “An Expository Study of Witchcraft among the Basoga of Uganda” International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE) Volume 6, Issue 12, December 2019, PP 83-96  A.B.C  Ocholla Ayayo, “Traditional ideology and ethics among the Southern Luo”, The Scandinavian Institute of African Studies Uppsala, 1976 John Beattie, “Sorcery in Bunyoro”, “Witchcraft and Sorcery in East Africa”, Psychology Press, 2004 Robert Blunt, “Anthropology After Dark: Nocturnal Life and the Anthropology of the Good-Enough in Western Kenya” Journal of Religion and Violence Vol. 8, No. 1 (2020), pp. 35-57 Owen Davies, “The Nightmare Experience, Sleep Paralysis, and Witchcraft Accusations”, Folklore Vol. 114, No. 2 (Aug., 2003), pp. 181-203 (23 pages) Published By: Taylor & Francis, Ltd Tom Kwanya, “Stigmatisation of Indigenous Knowledge: The Case of Night Running in Western Kenya” Journal of Religion in Africa Vol. 48, Fasc. 4 (2020), pp. 376-392 Yolamu Ndoleriire Nsamba, Mystique In Sovereigns’ Headgear (Wandsbeck: Reach Publishers, 2016) Okot P’Bitek, “Religion of the Central Luo” Kenya Literature Bureau University of Minnesota, 1978 Victor W Turner, “Witchcraft and Sorcery: Taxonomy versus Dynamics” Africa: Journal of the International African Institute Vol. 34, No. 4 (Oct., 1964), pp. 314-325 Kiyoshi Umeya, The Gospel Sounds Like the Witch's Spell: Dealing with Misfortune among the Jopadhola of Eastern Uganda, Langaa RPCID (Feb. 10 2022) Web Sources https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/sleep-paralysis-causes-symptoms-and-treatments https://www.sleepfoundation.org/parasomnias https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12133-parasomnias--disruptive-sleep-disorders https://youtu.be/4FIqsPWiwhg?si=XYiASZ1Imzhkq9km Special thanks to Daniel Brian Omyeri, Elizabeth Atuhaire and her neighbours for sharing with me their night dancer stories. Support the show
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The God of Death Muteesa and the Buganda Martyrs of 1875/76.
2024/10/06
Send us a text The Uganda Martyrs incident that resulted in the deaths of 45 christian converts in 1886 is widely known to christians worldwide. Unbeknownst to many, there is another martyrdom incident that occurred 10 or so years prior. In fact, there are 2 events that interestingly happened around the same time.   These obscure episodes in Buganda and African history ironically feed into each other and are what I present today. This was a really fascinating story for me to learn about. Just to be clear, I do not claim that Kabaka Muteesa 1, who is responsible for the killings, to be a death diety. Rather, I am simply making a comparison between the power over life and death that Muteesa had,  to that of the grim reaper. Corrections Min 15:50:10 - Meant to say King's Uncle Min 33:32:13 - Meant to say some Basoga not Baganda. Youtube Video Link https://youtu.be/-zhiX9O54wY Enjoy!! Sources ABK Kasozi, “The Spread of Islam in Uganda 1844 -1945” PHD Thesis presented at University of California, Santa Cruz 1974. Ahmed Katumba and F.B Welbourn, “Muslims Martyrs of Buganda” Uganda Journal 28 1964 (151 - 163) https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/UF00080855/00073/39x Arye Oded, “Islam in uganda: Islamization through a centralized state in pre-colonial Africa” Israel Universities Press, Jerusalem 1974. C.F. Holmes, “Zanzibar Influence at the Southern End of Lake Victoria: The Lake Route” African Historical Studies, Vol. 4, No. 3 (1971), pp. 477-503.  Ham Mukasa, “Backward Never Forward Ever”, Translation of the book “Simuda Nyuma” by Francis J.N. Batte, Hamu Mukasa Foundation 2012. Laurence Schiller, “The Royal Women of Buganda” The International Journal of African Historical Studies, Vol. 23, No. 3 (1990), pp. 455-473  Venny M.Nakazibwe, “ Bark-cloth Of The Baganda People Of Southern Uganda: A Record Of Continuity And Change From The Late Eighteenth Century To The Early Twenty First Century, (Middlesex University, 2005) (Pg, 130 - 133) chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/download/0aaa6bfe6c4498a8090e2481452682d5ba1878d69146fcccf4404e2267a73572/45355158/Nakazibwe-phd.pdf https://quran.com/al-fatihah H.M Stanley book https://archive.org/stream/stanleysdespatch00stan/stanleysdespatch00stan_djvu.txt https://www.deseret.com/2016/10/1/20597261/the-opening-of-the-quran/ https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/series/east-africa-indian-ocean-basin-world-economy-1760-1880/3-caravans-and-impact-long-distance-trade https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/lifestyle/reviews-profiles/namugongo-how-a-haunted-village-became-world-famous-1518256 Support the show
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The "Meat Giver" King & The Forgotten Micro-Kingdoms of Busiki & Busambira
2024/07/10
Send us a text Explore the history of the Busiki and Busambira states, two forgotten micro-kingdoms of pre-colonial Uganda. While most Busoga states were ruled by the AbaiseNgobi, these two nations were led by the lesser-known AbaiseIgaga clan. In this episode of "Those Who Came Before Us," we trace their journey from their founder the legendary "Meat Giver" Nemwe, through their pre-colonial sovereignty, all the way to the late 1900s when they were incorporated into the modern Busoga Kingdom and the nation of Uganda. Join me as we dive into the oral traditions, clan lineages, and the unique political heritage of the Basoga people that often goes untold in mainstream history. https://youtube.com/@thosewhocamebeforeus9326?si=C87e33Dsnsi1NJMO Words to note. Kisiki/Kisiginyi: Leader of the Busiki State Kisambira: Leader of the Busambira State Kabaka: Leader of the Buganda state. Naminha: Leader of the AbaiseNaminha Clan Igulu: Leader of the AbaiseIgulu Clan Please see sources below. SOURCES David William Cohen, “Emergence and Crisis: The States of Northern Busoga in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries” , in D. DENOON, ed., History of Uganda, vol. II (Nairobi: East African Publishing House). David William Cohen, “The Historical Tradition of Busoga; Mukama and Kintu” ( London: Clarendon Press, 1972) Minah Nabirye and Gilles-Maurice De Schryver, “Enkaana” , Fieldwork Texts Compiled by David William Cohen on the history of the Basoga people, (Kampala, Menha Publishers, 2022) Text 64, 68, 71, 76, 77, 78, 79 Federick Peter Batala-Nayenga, “An Economic History of the Lacustrine States of Busoga, Uganda: 1750-1939” ( University of Michigan, 1976) William FitzSimons, “Warfare, Competition, and the Durability of Political  Smallness in Nineteenth Century” Journal of African History ( Cambridge University Press, 2018) Y.K. Lubogo ESQ, “History of Busoga”(Kisubi,Uganda: Marianum Press Ltd, 2020)(Translated and reprint from original written in Luganda) Support the show
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The Matriarchs of Uganda: Stories from the Precolonial Era
2024/05/13
Send us a text Happy Mother's day to all mothers in the world. Queen - Mothers were vital to the power structures of the intralacustrine region. They were often the rallying points around which clans gathered to defend their candidate of choice.   Here is a list of 5 pre-colonial Queen-Mothers of Uganda. Enjoy!! Sources Buganda Laurence Schiller, “The Royal Women of Buganda” The International Journal of African Historical Studies, Vol. 23, No. 3 (1990), pp. 455-473  JM Gray, “Mutesa of Buganda”  Rhiannon Stephens, “A History of Motherhood, Food Procurement and Politics in East-Central Uganda to the Nineteenth Century” ( Evanston, Illinois 2007) https://arch.library.northwestern.edu/downloads/x633f108q  Kabaka Muteesa’s letter to Queen Victoria ;  https://ekitibwakyabuganda.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/mutesas-letter-to-queen-victoria/#:~:text=Oh!,He%20is%20God%20of%20God. Ham Mukasa, “Ebifa Ku Mulembe gwa Kabaka Mutesa” The Uganda Journal, Vol 1 No 2, April 1934. English Version translated by A.H.C. Full name isn’t displayed. Title in English is “Some Notes on the Reign of Kabaka Mutesa”. https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/UF00080855/00056/52j Bunyoro Ade Adefuye, “Kabalega and the Palwo: A Conflict of Aspirations”, (Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria Vol VIII NO 1 December, 1975) J.W. Nyakatura, Anatomy of an African Kingdom (New York: Nok Publishers, 1973)  Edward I. Steinhart, Conflict and Collaboration, The Kingdoms of Western Uganda 1890-1907(New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1977) https://www.amazon.ca/Conflict-Collaboration-Kingdoms-Western-1890-1907/dp/0691615594/ref=sr_1_1?crid=U1JCNQI4FX7J&keywords=The+Kingdoms+of+Western+Uganda+1890-1907&qid=1694981666&s=books&sprefix=the+kingdoms+of+western+uganda+1890-1907%2Cstripbooks%2C151&sr=1-1 Ruth Fischer, Twilight Tales of the Black Baganda( London: Marshall Brothers, 1938) https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30717853317&searchurl=kn%3DTwilight%2BTales%2Bof%2Bthe%2BBlack%2BBaganda%26sortby%3D17&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-image1 https://kabalegafoundation.org/facts-about-omukama-kabalega.html https://www.bunyorokitarausa.org/amasaaza-ga-bunyoro/ Busoga David William Cohen, “Womunafu’s Bunafu” ( New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1977) https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31182157137&searchurl=ds%3D20%26kn%3Dwomunafu%2527s%2Bbunafu%26sortby%3D1 Support the show
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Sibling States: The Forgotten Micro-Kingdoms of Bulamogi and Bukono
2024/04/22
Send us a text In this installment of "Those Who Came Before Us," we explore the intertwined pre-colonial histories of Bulamogi and Bukono. These are not just neighbouring states; they are "sibling states" founded by the AbaiseNgobi—the royal clan whose lineage defined the sovereignty of Busoga. Tracing their journey up to 1900, we dive into the unique bond between these two houses and how they maintained their identity within the larger Busoga collective. From the sacred authority of the Mukama to the strategic traps of their kings, this is a deep dive into the political maneuvers and family rivalries that shaped northern Busoga. Youtube Video Link: https://youtu.be/7alaiwIcOBw Words to Note. Zibondo - Title for King of Bulamogi Kingdom Kabaka -  Title for King of Buganda Kingdom Nkono    - Title for King of Bukono Kingdom Tabingwa - Title for King of Luuka Kingdom SOURCES David William Cohen, “Emergence and Crisis: The States of Northern Busoga in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries” , in D. DENOON, ed., History of Uganda, vol. II (Nairobi: East African Publishing House).  David William Cohen, “The Historical Tradition of Busoga; Mukama and Kintu” ( London: Clarendon Press, 1972) Federick Peter Batala-Nayenga, “An Economic History of the Lacustrine States of Busoga, Uganda: 1750-1939” ( University of Michigan, 1976) Lloyd Fallers, “Bantu Bureacracy” ( The University of Chicago Press, 1965) Minah Nabirye and Gilles-Maurice De Schryver, “Enkaana” , Fieldwork Texts Compiled by David William Cohen on the history of the Basoga people, (Kampala, Menha Publishers, 2022) Y.K. Lubogo ESQ, “History of Busoga”(Kisubi,Uganda: Marianum Press Ltd, 2020)(Translated and reprint from original written in Luganda) Support the show
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5 out of 5
2 reviews
cam90210 2021/03/23
Fantastic
Entertaining, informative, thoroughly researched, and funny! I hope you will be back for more seasons!
Kja40 2020/06/28
Wow
David has crafted a podcast that is both educational and entertaining. He is a such great story teller and I am looking forward to future episodes. Gr...
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