Dr. Michael Bazzebulala Nsimbi,

MBE Mbe may refer to: * Mbé, a town in the Republic of the Congo * Mbe Mountains Community Forest, in Nigeria * Mbe language, a language of Nigeria * Mbe' language, language of Cameroon * ''mbe'', ISO 639 code for the extinct Molala language Molal ...

(March 10, 1910 – March 5, 1994) was a Ugandan teacher, poet who was considered the Father of

Ganda Ganda may refer to: Places * Ganda, Angola * Ganda, Tibet, China * Ganda, the ancient Latin name of Ghent, a city in Belgium Other uses * Baganda or Ganda, a people of Uganda ** Luganda or Ganda language, a language of Uganda * ''Ganda'' and "Ga ...

literature, was a pioneer of Luganda language, culture and written forms.

Early life and education

Born in Masaka, he was educated at St. Henry's College, Kitovu, and St. Mary's College, Kisubi, and later Makerere University, where he qualified as a teacher.

Career

In the 1940s, Nsimbi produced ''Ennono z’Abaganda (The Origins of Baganda)'', a foundational work in the development of Luganda orthography and historiography.Kent, Hall, Daily & Lancour (1968); ''Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science''
p. 300.
/ref> He established the

Luganda Society The Luganda Society is a non-governmental organization dedicated to the teaching and promotion of the Luganda language. Founding The Luganda Society was established in 1950 through the efforts of Michael B. Nsimbi, known as “The Father of Ganda ...

in 1950 to preserve, popularise and promote the use of Luganda among both Baganda and non-Baganda,Buganda.com
The Luganda Society
/ref> and worked with J. D. Chesswas to produce text books for courses in the Luganda language. Chairman of the society from 1963 to 1987, Nsimbi was a driving force, together with Dr

Livingstone Walusimbi Livingstone may refer to: *Livingstone (name), a Scottish surname and a given name. **David Livingstone (1813–1873), Scottish physician, missionary and explorer, after whom many other Livingstones are named Places *Livingstone Falls, on the Cong ...

, in establishing a Luganda-language curriculum for the first time at Makerere University in 1976, the country’s only university at the time. As a result a high school curriculum was introduced in 1979, and a curriculum for the National Teachers' Colleges in 1984. In 1989 he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree (Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa) from Makerere. Nsimbi also encouraged the revival of other local languages and cultures in the nation of Uganda. He was made an

in 1960, and was awarded the ''

Uganda Independence Medal __NOTOC__ The Uganda Independence Medal was authorised by Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of the granting of independence to Uganda to give recognition to individuals of the Armed Forces, Police Force and Local Government. Members of the milita ...

'' in 1963. He died on March 5, 1994, and the same year was honoured with the creation of the Dr. Nsimbi Scholarship Scheme in honour of his work in promoting Luganda language and culture.

Works

* ''ennono z’Abaganda (The Origins of Baganda)'' * ''Olulimi Oluganda'' * ''An explanation of the Standard Orthography of Luganda'' (1958, 1963), with J. D. Chesswas * ''The Kagenda series: Kitagenda ne Kagenda, Kagenda ne Banne, Kagenda ne banne bakola ki?'' * ''Omweso Mu Uganda'' (Omweso, a Game People Play in Uganda) (1969) * ''Luganda Names, Clans and Totems'' (1980) * ''Njize Okusoma Kato Ne Nnakku Ekitabo'' (1990), with J. D. Chesswas * ''Siwa Muto Lugero'' (1990) * ''Amannya Amaganda N'Ennono Zaago'' (1990) works published pseudonymously as Binsangawano: *''Bonna Baasumagira?'' *''Bwali butamanya.''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nsimbi, Michael B. Ugandan writers 1910 births 1994 deaths Ganda people Members of the Order of the British Empire People from Central Region, Uganda People educated at St. Mary's College Kisubi