BANYAKIGEZI OF GREATER MPORORO
THE EXPRESSIONS AND DEFINATIONS FROM MPORORO CULTURAL HERITAGE by Caleb Kahirita- The Mohororo of Mpororo
16th Sept 2013. The word Kigezi originated from Egyezi or Akagyezi -small lake. It was allocated on the hill top rock- Eibare- present Kabale District headquarters. In 1913 the colonialists transferred the head office of former Greater Kigezi from Inkumba Hill n
ear Kisoro to Kabale Township. The four Chieftainships or Monarchies of Rujumbura under Omukama Makobore, Bufumbira under Umutware Nyindo. Kinkizi under Omukama Ruhayana and Ndorwa under Chief Rwagara were combined into the District of Kigezi. The colonialists used similar featuring site as geographical names Eg Rujumbura from the creator lake Karujumbura. Bufumbira from Mufumbiro Ranges, with the highest peak Muhabura- direction compass for earthiest travelers. Kinkizi for plains extending to the Rift valley or lake called Enkizi. Then, the word Ndorwa was from the royal drum called Muhororwa. The creater Kigezi was part of Mpororo which extended from south of river Katonga to Lake Tanganyika. The people enjoyed the common root word expressed for greeting guesture and Hamony for peace, in the Great lakes region e.g Buhoro-gye or Buhoro-kurungi or Namahoro etc. They all enjoyed their tradition food diety- Buro which added to the Bahororo identification. In those early years, there was no immigration as such, but movements of people from one area to another of their choice. They used to follow their companions in marriages and Blood friendships. At the same time, escaping nature disasters and famine. There were no restrictions of Boundaries as created by Colonial Imperialists. All the clans were indentified by the Taboo and Totems. The taboo was regarded as abominable clan symbol. That was, as the result from the bad omen experienced by clan ancestors. The Totem was regarded as the lucky symbol to the particular clan members. That difference in clan taboos and Totem had no indication for individual occupations. Those who preferred Highland plateau were mainly cultivators and those who followed the low plains were cattle keepers. The same were forested, hunters and fish mongers near lakes and rivers. Those early natives in the region regarded marriages as a sign of prestige in producing many children. It was good for the expansion of the clans. The introduction of Christian faith discouraged that tradition polygamy to monogamy marriages. The Natives were identified by the names, as a living person and died with the same names. People’s nicknames sounded more frequently e.g Ishe Murari, Ishe Katabazi. Even after death-of parents, their children were called Bene Kanyansi, Bene Nyakwegyendera etc The children were restricted from mentioning the real names called Okutsinda. The formation of clans, developed from the Breast feeding of children. The breast feeding was the Nucleous of clans formation as the mother never breastfed their brothers’ baby. At the same time, the children born from both sisters never marry each other. While the children born from uncles- Nyinarume, Aunties – ishenkazi- families would marry each other. The children from those different homes were referred to as opposite and shared mothers in laws. In summary the oldest clans ( Abatembuzi) in the Greator lakes Region were Bamugwe, Bamwisyo, Bamuntu, Babutumbi. E.g
Bamugwe was the wide spread clan in East and Central Africa, known as the Engo-clan- Friendly leopard. The Bamwisyo considered the delay in child birth, as the disaster to child survival. The Bamuntu or Muntu consider Breast Milk as the necessity for child growth. The Babutumbi were the first Mountainous and Forested dwellers who were the earliest rulers in the region (Abanyarurembo). The Bantu were the First Inhabitants of the Great lakes Region. They expressed the arrival of Kush*te Immigrants as Aborugahare, or Abaruhahe- the group clan come to be known as Abagahe. They spread in wider areas of settlements and divided into three main sub clan’s e.g Bakinyagiro, Batsigi, Bakorobwa. Each sub-clan divisions enjoyed the same Taboo- Ente Ngobe and Totem-Empungu Nyamarere. Also the four sub-clans Bagahe, Bakinyagiro, Batsigi, Bakarobwa enjoy Marriages among them selves. The Bagyesera clan-retained the name of their Ancestrical settlement’s of Bugyesera in present Rwanda. They distinguished themselves as prominent figures who kept closer to cattle Husbandry. The Bahinda were descendants of Ruhinda one of the rulers of Mpororo. The father Wamala (Muramira) belonged the Babito from Bunyoro Kitara. The Batsyaba clan, the descendants of Ancestress female founder Nyinaritsyaba. She produced the son Kagera whom some of descendants preferred their identity as Bamugara. The total 10 clans, namely, 1. Bamugwe, 2 Bamuntu, 3 Bamwitsyo, 4 Babutumbi 5 Bagahe-Batsigi, 6. Bagahe Bakorobwa, 7. Bagahe Bakinyagiro, 8. Batsyaba, 9. Bagyesera, 10. Bahinda. They freely exchanged Marriages and the Individual clans share with each other, the Bukumbi cultural phenomenon. That’s why; it was abominable for children to marry from same clans as they were regarded as brothers and sisters. The marriage process began by sought at real wife (1) Okurima (2) Okushaba (3) Okusiima eka (4) Okujugisa (5) Okuhingira (6) Okushwera. The Bahororo’s other kinds of marriages were (1) Okushaba (2) Okutsigura (3) Okujumba (4) Okuteera Oruhoko (5) Okukiiriza (6) Okutendera- the kind of marriage by poor people who would labour to get a wife. In those older ages people worshiped the Almighty God- Nyamuhanga Nyakutsinga and Rugaba through the tradition cult Nyinabingi.
3. It was the tradition religion enjoyed by the present Banyankole, Bakiga, Banyarwanda, Barundi, Banyamurengye, Karagwe in Tanzania Koki, Babito etc. That same tradition cult originated into the wide spread of the Bachwezi up to date. The Bachwezi initiated the blessing of anointing people by sign of spirit salivas- Okucwera. Among the Heros of Banya Kigezi Warriors and other status of personalities were as follows.
1. Nyakairima Kamuzoora- the prophet.
2. Umwani Rwabugiri and wife Muhumuza
3. The sons Umwani Nyindo and Ndugutse Buregyeya
4. Chief Katuregye of Bufundi
5. Worrior Ntokibiri -Bicubirenga
6. Chief Muhoozi his son Omukama Makoobore
7. Chief Karegyesa and son Philimon Kitaburaza
8. Chief Mbagyeruka and Kosia Kikira
9. Miranda his son William Biteeyi
10. Rev Elnest Nyabagabo and sons Baingana & Rukikeire
11. Rev Semu Ndimbirwe and son Lawey Arthur Muhwezi
12. Chief Paulo Ngorogoza
13. Chief Bwankosya
14. Hon John Bikangaga
15. Hon John Rwamafa
16. Elder Rwamutsikura&Son Rev Kahirita
17. Chief Kamukoryo
18. Hon Bazanyamaso
19. Hon Mateke
20. Chief Mpambara
21. Hon Babukika
22. Hon Kham Karegyesa
23. Canon Justus Rwabugaire
24. Elder Musa Kifefe and Son Dr Besigye
25. Hon Justus Byagagaire
26. Dr Karoli Bakesigaki
27. Elder Solomon Bagujuna
28. Elder Kezekia Biryabarema
29. Elder Rwakitonera Serivelio
30. Bishop Kivengyere
31. Professor Frank Karumizo
32. Hon Elinasani Bisamunyu
33. Fr Polycap Kobusheshe
34. Researcher Simeo Baitwababo
35. Chief Bigombe
36. Bishop Dr. Yostasi Ruhindi
(Mwena Mwije)
The above mentioned personalities and many others should be remembered for their contributions.
