Sound & Music
D. John
Sound: Drums in Ugandan Culture
The use of sound in African theatre practise is linked to the historical origins of African storytelling. African storytelling was defined by rituals that included music, dancing, and use of masks (Kreie). These rituals were the mechanisms by which social rules and norms were passed down from one generation to the next. In Uganda, this is very much the case, and In George Seremba’s Come Good Rain, the soundscape is influential in informing the audience about Ugandan culture and traditions. The sound of Come Good Rain was largely influenced by the use of a drum (Embuutu), a choice that was far from arbitrary. This is because drums are very important in Ugandan culture, and they are used to signify many cultural themes and practises
The Instrumentality of Drums in Ugandan Culture
In Ugandan Culture, Drums are played when a child is born (during the naming ceremony), and they are played when one dies, at their burial ceremony. Drums are also used to mark other important event in the lives of the members of the society. Drums are played during weddings, harvest festivals, family meetings and even before a hunt. In essence, drums are used to coordinate and legitimize important events in Ugandan communities.
Playing Ugandan Drums: A Tutorial
Drum and Spirituality
Communities in Uganda worship different Gods, and so drums are often present in shrines and places of worship. Drums are mandatory during worship religious ceremonies and preachers cannot conduct services without a drum being present. In this context, drums serve as an agent between the invisible world and the visible world, the drum is believed to create a connection between the normal world and the spiritual world. In these religious worship ceremonies, different drumming rhythms are utilized to communicate different messages to the gods. On another account, drums are therapeutic for those experiencing physical emotional or psychological illnesses, as they are encouraged to play the drums in hopes of being healed.
Drum as a Device for Communication
Drums also serve as a way of sending messages to the community. Many rural communities do not own radios or television, and so drums are the default means of sending out community message. Different rhythms are played to send different types of messages. For example, drum rhythms like “ssaaagala agalamidde,” meant “everybody is to get up.” In this regard, drums serve as a way of sending signals and transferring information around the community. Also, drums are used to communicate emergencies, such as crimes, death or calls for help. All of which can be identified and distinguished by the rhythm of the drum. To serve these purposes, every family is expected to own a drum.
Drum as a Device of Power
In Ugandan culture, women were often prevented from playing the drums due to some cultural taboos, however this began to change during post colonial times. It is not clear whether George’s decision to use a male drummer in the play was representative of this fact, but it’s a choice that is worth noting. Drums represent power in Ugandan communities, this is evidenced by the fact that drums are used as a means of identifying those who have the most authority in the society. For example, the chief of the community, also known as the clan leader and the Kabaka (King) is referred to as “ omwana w’engoma,” which means "Son of the drum." When the king is inaugurated, the people refer to him as the “alidde engoma,” which means the “one who has eaten the drum.” The power of drums is more blatant due to the fact that is it the means by which the tribes are gathered for community meetings and tribal rituals. Further, the misuse of drums is very frowned upon. For instace, a drum was not to be placed on its head as that meant the death of a king, and misusing a drum was viewed as undermining the authority of the Kabaka (The king).
Conclusion
Evidently Drums are very important in the social, political and traditional norms of the Uganda. This being the case, George Seremba’s use of the drums for sound is definitely not an arbitrary choice. Rather, it is a choice that highlights and reflects the dominance of drums in the everyday life of Ugandan communities. It is a choice that informs the audience about one of Uganda’s most important cultural symbols, exemplifying the diversity of functions that drums serve in Uganda. Additionally, in choosing to use a drum as his main source for sound, Seremba invites the audience to immerse themselves into the Ugandan community, allowing for a deeper engagement with the given circumstances of the play.
Works Cited:
African drum lesssons from suladjembefola Uganda, YouTube, uploaded by Sulaiman Djembe Fola Mufokota Ngoma. 3rd March, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIKHcNVuN8Y.
Alfdanies, Mabingo. “Traditional Instruments-Uganda”, FaceMusic 2012, http://www.face-music.ch/instrum/uganda_drumen.html. Accessed December 8th, 2020.
“Face Music: Traditional Instruments: Uganda.” FaceMusic, December 1998, http://www.face-music.ch/instrum/uganda_drumen.html. Accessed 26 November 2020.
Mabingo, Alfdaniels. “Teaching Ugandan Traditional Dances and Drumming in Summer Camps.” Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, vol. 88, no. 5, June 2017, pp. 20–25, doi:10.1080/07303084.2017.1294510.
Samuel, Makanga. “Musical Instruments of Uganda.” Prime Uganda Safaris & Tours, Prime Uganda Safaris Ltd, 1 July 2020, www.primeugandasafaris.com/blog/musical-instruments-of-uganda.html.
The Real Deal: Rhythms from Uganda, YouTube, uploaded by DrumTalkTvChanne. 1st May 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shQ_3moyI58.
Works Cited:
African drum lesssons from suladjembefola Uganda, YouTube, uploaded by Sulaiman Djembe Fola Mufokota Ngoma. 3rd March, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIKHcNVuN8Y.
Alfdanies, Mabingo. “Traditional Instruments-Uganda”, FaceMusic 2012, http://www.face-music.ch/instrum/uganda_drumen.html. Accessed December 8th, 2020.
“Face Music: Traditional Instruments: Uganda.” FaceMusic, December 1998, http://www.face-music.ch/instrum/uganda_drumen.html. Accessed 26 November 2020.
Mabingo, Alfdaniels. “Teaching Ugandan Traditional Dances and Drumming in Summer Camps.” Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, vol. 88, no. 5, June 2017, pp. 20–25, doi:10.1080/07303084.2017.1294510.
Samuel, Makanga. “Musical Instruments of Uganda.” Prime Uganda Safaris & Tours, Prime Uganda Safaris Ltd, 1 July 2020, www.primeugandasafaris.com/blog/musical-instruments-of-uganda.html.
The Real Deal: Rhythms from Uganda, YouTube, uploaded by DrumTalkTvChanne. 1st May 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shQ_3moyI58.