The Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU)in partnership with Total Energies EP Uganda held a 2-day music camp for music groups supported by its Culture for Livelihood Programme (CUL).
The camp which took place in Pakwach town was attended by 4 groups, including Odokolit Music Group and Wamito Kuc Women’s group from Nwoya District in Acholi, Mubaku Sound of the Nile, an Alur adungu group that performs in Murchison Falls National Park, and Bugungu Heritage and Information Centre (BHIC) troupe from Buliisa District in Bugungu.
This was aimed at fostering intercultural dialogue, promoting transmission of skills to young people and building the capacity of the groups by professional music trainers from the Uganda Heritage Roots. The training also focused on aspects such as group dynamics and marketing, to facilitate sustainability.
For generations, traditional music has been an important part of the African heritage and identity, as it plays a functional role. For instance, songs are composed for important events in society, and music is a repository of knowledge –used for education and learning. Since the ancient people could not read or write in a modern way, this was the best way of recording, keeping, retrieving and transmitting information.
However, traditional music in Uganda is threatened with extinction due to the influence of modernity and modern technology. Traditional music instruments that distinguished our music from others have been replaced by modern ones to meet the needs of the mostly young population.
To safeguard and preserve traditional music, as an important part of our heritage, in 2022, with support from TotalEnergies EP Uganda Ltd, CCFU embarked on the Culture for Livelihood (CUL) project aimed at safeguarding and promoting cultural heritage conservation in the Albertine region. As part of the project, CCFU has documented the musical heritage of Bunyoro, Bugungu, Alur and Acholi cultural communities and produced a publication.
Additionally, music groups have been supported through procurement of instruments, trainings, and spaces to serve as ‘offices’ and for safe custody of their instruments.
The music camp thus complements these efforts and presents a great opportunity for the empowerment of these groups to fully unlock their potential.