Buganda Bumu Convention Draws Hundreds, Rocks Atlanta City
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Parent Category: Issue
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in Issue 2/17
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By EADM Correspondent
In Summary: Hundreds of Baganda across North America, Europe, Africa, and Uganda thronged the city of Atlanta, Georgia on Friday for the 3-day second biennial Buganda Bumu North American Convention (BBNAC) and literary rocked the city! For the entire US-Memorial Day weekend, the city was abuzz with cultural activities by a people clad in Busuuti for women and white Kanzus for men. This is an extraordinary Buganda cultural showpiece and Atlanta will never be the same again. Residents of Atlanta now know; who the Baganda are, what and where Buganda is, key elements of Buganda culture; language, dress, Food, and Dance, and got a sneak peek into why the Kingdom of Buganda has existed, survived, and thrived for over 700 years. But beyond the grandeur and merrymaking, to all the Baganda who have attended the 2017 BBNC event in Atlanta, others in the Diaspora who could not make it, and those back home; young and old; men and women, “Ekitiibwa Kya Buganda Kyava Dda!” (The Glory of Buganda is Historical.” Awangale Ssabasajja Kabaka
http://eadm.news/issue/issue-1/116-buganda-s-anthem
The Buganda Anthem
The Kabaka (King) of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II
Atlanta, Georgia--The second biennial Buganda Bumu North American Convention (BBNAC) which ended yesterday , Monday, here at the Westin Perimeter North Hotel, attracted hundreds of Baganda in the Diaspora including those living in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, and from motherland Buganda in Uganda. The convention hotel, strategically located at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North 7 Concourse Parkway NE, is strategically situated on a private lake, less than 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta, and minutes from the Perimeter area businesses where most shopping and dining facilities are in close proximity. Convened under the theme: “Strengthen Luganda and invest in health and economic development,” (“Tunyweeze eby’Obuwangwa, eby’Obulamu, n’Okwekulaakulanya,”) was officially opened on Saturday May 27, 2017 by Princess (Omumbejja) Joan Nassolo Tebattagwabwe who also delivered the message from the Ssaabasajja of Buganda Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi. Accompanied by Prince Chrispin Jjunju, Princess Nasolo was introduced to the convention by the Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga to a standing ovation and cultural ululations from hundreds of attendees who literally brought the hotel roof down.
Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga, the chief guest at the 2017 BBNAC event, arrived at the venue on Friday, accompanied by Princess Joan Nassolo Tebattagwabwe, Prince Chrispin Jjunju, and a big delegation from the Buganda royal family, members of the Buganda Kingdom Lukiiko, and others. The climax of the event, on Sunday May 28, 2017, was a Royal Dinner at which the Katikkiro, Charles Peter Mayiga, delivered a keynote speech to the hundreds of attendees.
Katikiro Charles Peter Mayiga, guest of honor at the 2017 BBNAC event in Atlanta, delivered the keynote address at the royal dinner last night.
The hundreds of Baganda who thronged the city of Atlanta, Georgia on Friday for the 3-day second biennial Buganda Bumu North American Convention (BBNAC) certainly rocked the city! For the entire US-Memorial Day weekend, the city has been abuzz with cultural activities by a people clad in Busuuti for women and white Kanzus for men. This has been an extraordinary Buganda cultural showpiece and Atlanta will never be the same again.
Residents of Atlanta now know; who the Baganda are, what and where Buganda is, key elements of Buganda culture; language, dress, Food, and Dance, and got a sneak peek into why the Kingdom of Buganda has existed, survived, and thrived for over 700 years. But beyond the grandeur and merrymaking, to all the Baganda who attended the 2017 BBNAC event in Atlanta, others in the Diaspora who could not make it, and those back home; young and old; men and women, “Ekitiibwa Kya Buganda Kyava Dda!” (The Glory of Buganda is Historical.” Awangale Ssabasajja Kabaka!
The 2017 biennial BBNAC event was organized by Agaliawamu Atlanta led by a 7-member committee comprising of Emmanuel Wasswa Kivumbi; Samuel Kiggwe; Dr. Sarah Matovu; Wycliffe Lule-Musoke; Eng. Moses Ggayi Mayanja; Margaret Kanyike; and Damali Lwanga. By all accounts, the consensus expressed by attendees was that the organization of the 2017 BBNAC did a lot to attract a high attendance and sponsorship. The entire organizing committee, the Kabaka representatives in North America, members of the Agali Awamu, Atlanta, and their leadership were commended for their work. Owek. Samuel Mwanje Kiggwe, however, Kabaka’s representative to the south east region including Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama and his deputy, Gerald Katongole are still receiving the accolades for their work on the ground.
During the 3-day event, most especially the opening ceremony and the royal dinner, the majesty and splendor was not lost on all the diners who elegantly turned up in their traditional Kanzus for men and Busuutis for women. To the uninitiated, the indigenous dress of a Muganda man is a kanzu, a long, white cotton robe. Kanzus are now also made out of white and cream cotton and silk materials. On special occasions, such as the BBNC opening ceremony and royal dinner, the kanzu is worn over trousers with a Western-style suit jacket over it. A Muganda woman typically wears a busuuti, a floor-length, brightly colored cloth dress with a square neckline and short, puffed sleeves. The garment is fastened with a sash placed just below the waist over the hips, and by two buttons on the left side of the neckline. Traditionally, the busuuti was strapless and made from bark-cloth. The busuuti or gomesi is now made out of a variety of cloth materials including silk and others. The busuuti is worn on all festive and ceremonial occasions.
US-Airforce officer Maj. Dr. Lukiya Mulumba and one of her friends clad in their traditional Buganda attire savored every moment of the 2017 BBNAC convention and took time off for selfies.
The 3-day 2017 BBNAC convention was headlined by several artistes including Meshach Semakula, Saava Karim, Viboyo, Roy Kapale and Isaiah Katumwa who staged live performances while DJ Clein & DJ Bernarzo have been spinning trans-night disco music for the revelers. And reveling, the Baganda at the 2017 BBNC never disappointed. They definitely did!
The Buganda Bumu North American Convention (BBNAC) is a coalition of eight Baganda associations in North America which merged in 2015 to bring together all the Baganda living in the North American Diaspora. The BBNAC holds its biennial conventions on the Memorial Day weekend. The eight Associations which form the one umbrella organization, BBNAC, are; Ggwanga Mujje Boston Chapter Inc., Gwanga Mujje Midwest, Ggwanga Mujje DC, Kamu Kamu, Dallas, Agali Awamu, Atlanta, Baganda Community of New York/New Jersey, Bulungi Bwansi Canada, and Buganda Ey’enkya, California. The major objective of the BBNC and its eight stakeholders in collaboration with the Government of the Kingdom of Buganda in Mengo, Uganda is improving the well-being of fellow Ugandans.
The BBNAC, in collaboration with the Kabaka’s representatives in North America organized the first-ever joint event at the Best Western Hotel in Malboro, Massachusetts during the Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to May 25th 2015. The inaugural convention was graced by the Katikiro of Buganda Kingdom Charles Peter Mayiga as guest of honor. He was accompanied by the Deputy Katikiro Ambassador Emmanuel Sendawula, members of the royal family and members of the Buganda Lukiiko.