{UAH} REV.KASIBANTE ON LUMBE

'Okwabya Olumbe (literally, bursting death) was crucial in ki-Ganda culture and in ki-Ganda understanding of life and death. First of all, death had an agent called Walumbe (death bearer).

In Ganda folklore, it is the subject of myth and is linked to the myth of creation associated with the first man and woman: Kintu and Nambi respectively. It is a myth that we learned as children. It would be interesting to find out how many Baganda who claim to be proud of ki-Ganda culture have taken the trouble to teach the myth to their children.

The myth contains certain elements about life. We are involved in a constant struggle between life and death, and we believe that in the end we, rather than Walumbe, are the victors. Many ki-Ganda songs spoke of our mortality, and those which spoke about death also had an element of humour, for example:

Ka nnyenye ku galiba enjole (let me dance and shake these bones, which will turn into a bundle)

Ettaka lino lindiko ekiruyi: kyenva ndirinnya (I have an axe to grind with the soil; that is why I trample it)

Ssekiriba kya ttaka: mpawo atalikyambala (no one will escape death)
Olumbe tuyita nalwo (we walk with death)

Amagumba galiba yigiyigi (these bones of mine will become wobbly or ricketty)

But finally, the Baganda said, "Abaana ba Kintu tebagwerera" (Kintu's children will not all perish).

Among the Baganda, when a person died close family members performed certain symbolic actions. One of them was tying a piece of bark cloth around their waists. This was called "effuvu" (plural: amafuvu). Another was tearing their hire out so to make it look bushy or unkempt (okusansulula enviiri). Bathing the whole body in water was also suspended until the Kwabya Olumbe (post-funeral rites).

Suspension bathing might seem like a weird thing. But the reader must understand that in the past, the post-funeral rites took place a few days after the burial. Today, much of this has changed.

Next, I will mention briefly what happened during the actual ceremony of "Okwabya Olumbe".'

--REV AMOS KASIBANTE, UK

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Rehema
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