Ebyevugo is a genre of

oral poetry Oral poetry is a form of poetry that is composed and transmitted without the aid of writing. The complex relationships between written and spoken literature in some societies can make this definition hard to maintain. Background Oral poetry is ...

in the

Runyankore Nkore (also called Nkole, Nyankore, Nyankole, Orunyankore, Orunyankole, Runyankore and Runyankole) is a Bantu language spoken by the Nkore ("Banyankore") of south-western Uganda in the former province of Ankole, as well as in Tanzania, the DR Co ...

language, spoken by the

Banyankore Ankole ( Runyankore: ''Nkore''), was a traditional Bantu kingdom in Uganda and lasted from the 15th century until 1967. The kingdom was located in south-western Uganda, east of Lake Edward. History Ankole Kingdom is located in the South-Wes ...

people of southwestern

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The south ...

. Ebyevugo are mainly composed and performed to praise

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult ...

, brides, warriors, and political leaders. They reflect the traditional pre-colonial occupations, values, and history of the

, especially the Bahima, who are cattle keepers.

History

Ebyevugo likely originated at communal gatherings in people’s homes or beer parties, where people met to talk and share experiences. Ebyevugo were also used as a form of entertainment, education, and socialization. Ebyevugo are closely related to ibyivugo, the

praise poetry A panegyric ( or ) is a formal public speech or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing. The original panegyrics were speeches delivered at public events in ancient Athens. Etymology The word originated as a compound of grc, ...

of the

Banyarwanda The Banyarwanda ( rw, Abanyarwanda (plural), Umunyarwanda (singular), lit=those who come from Rwanda) are the cultural, tribal and linguistic group of people who inhabit mainly Rwanda. Some Banyarwanda live in the Democratic Republic of the ...

people of Rwanda, who share linguistic and cultural ties with the Banyankore. Both ebyevugo and ibyivugo contain characteristics that reflect the distinction between the cattle-keeping elite ( Bahima/

Batutsi The Tutsi (), or Abatutsi (), are an ethnic group of the African Great Lakes region. They are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group and the second largest of three main ethnic groups in Rwanda and Burundi (the other two being the largest Bantu ethnic gro ...

) and the farming majority (Bairu/Bahutu) in the pre-colonial era.

Performance

Ebyevugo are performed by individual poets, called abevugyi, who have the skill, creativity, and ability to memorize and recite the poetry. The performance of ebyevugo is usually accompanied by

musical instrument A musical instrument is a device created or adapted to make musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. A person who pl ...

s, such as drums, flutes, and horns. The performance is also interactive, as the audience responds to the poet’s calls with chants, claps, or cheers. Ebyevugo performances are influenced by context, the occasion, and the audience. Ebyevugo are still recited in the

Ankole Ankole (Runyankore: ''Nkore''), was a traditional Bantu kingdom in Uganda and lasted from the 15th century until 1967. The kingdom was located in south-western Uganda, east of Lake Edward. History Ankole Kingdom is located in the South-Wester ...

countryside, in homes and beer places, but the most common occasion for their performance is the okuhingira, the

dowry A dowry is a payment, such as property or money, paid by the bride's family to the groom or his family at the time of marriage. Dowry contrasts with the related concepts of bride price and dower. While bride price or bride service is a payment ...

and/or marriage ceremony.

Significance

Ebyevugo are significant for the preservation and transmission of the Banyankore culture, identity, and history. Ebyevugo celebrate the beauty, strength, and wealth of the Banyankore, especially their prized cattle. Ebyevugo also praise the bravery, heroism, and achievements of Banyankore warriors and political leaders, such as the kings and chiefs. Ebyevugo link to the behaviors and attitudes of the Banyankole people and are essential for their well-being. They were taught to male members of society at a young age, and they grew up knowing how to compose and respect them.

References

External links

Universal Tongue
* Africa2U: Ekitaguriro Dance {{Uganda topics African poetry African folklore Ankole Culture of Uganda Folk poetry Oral literature

History

Performance

Significance

See also

References

External links