Kabaka Envoy Inducts American Professor into Buganda’s Kinyomo Clan
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By Samuel Muwanguzi
In Summary: There was fanfare at the Westin Hotel in Los Angeles, California as over 50 African Americans were inducted into various clans and communities in Africa. King Nana Csabagima Kofi Boateng III of the Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana was guest of honor at the traditional ceremony witnessed by hundreds of culture enthusiasts from California and beyond. During the colorful ceremony, the representative of the Kabaka of Buganda to Southern California, Arizona, and Hawaii Omugave Joseph Semakula inducted an African American Professor, her mother, and two daughters into Buganda’s Kinyomo clan.
Los Angeles, California—Hundreds of cultural enthusiasts in California and beyond thronged the Westin Hotel in Los Angeles, California for the induction ceremony of over 50 African Americans were inducted into various clans and communities in Africa. The event was organized by African Focus, an organization dedicated to the observance, promotion, and preservation of the rich and diverse African culture among African communities around the world, especially among African descendants scattered across the globe. The annual event took place at the Westin Hotel in Los Angeles, California a fortnight ago. The guest of honor at the induction ceremony was King Nana Csabagima Kofi Boateng III of the Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana.
The Kingdom of Buganda in Uganda was one of the communities that inducted an African American Professor, her mother, and two children into the Buganda Kinyomo clan. After going through the kiganda cultural naming rituals, she was named Thekima Nanseko. The naming and induction ceremony for Ms. Thekima Nanseko was conducted by the representative of the Kabaka of Buganda to Southern California, Arizona, and Hawaii Omugave Joseph Semakula Ndugwa on behalf of the kingdom of Buganda.
Some of the entertainers performing the Kiganda traditional dance at the induction ceremony at Western Hotel.
Ms. Thekima Nanseko Mayasa is a professor of African Studies at San Diego Mesa College, California. The induction ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Damian Kigoye, the President of the Uganda Community in California, who represented the kinyomo clan. The kinyomo, a red anti according to the Buganda kingdom site, is one of the totems in Buganda whose estate is at Kyasa, Buddu County, Masaka district.
The Representative of the Sabasajja of Buganda Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi to Southern California, Hawaii and Arizona, Joseph Ssemakula Omugave Ndugwa, 3rd from left, performed the naming and induction ceremony. Wearing a red busuuti is the newly inducted American Professor Thekima Nanseko Mayasa from San Diego Mesa College, California. Next to her is Mr. Damian Kigoye who represented the kinyomo clan.
The induction ceremony was witnessed by hundreds of guests from Diaspora communities originating from Africa living in the United States. They included Nigerians, Cameroonians, Liberians, Ghanaians, Ugandans, South Africans, among others. They were joined by Americans of various races and colors; Caucasians, Asians, Hispanics, and Europeans.
The guests were fascinated by the elaborate cultural ceremonies of inducting the over 50 African Americans into various African communities. The rituals were performed by representatives from different African clans and communities living in the United States.
Some members of the Ugandan community in Los Angeles who attended the induction ceremony with the newly inducted Prof. Thekima Nanseko into the Buganda kinyomo clan together with the Representative of Kabaka Mutebi to Southern California, Hawaii and Arizona, Joseph Ssemakula Omugave Ndugwa and Mr. Damian Kigoye president of the Ugandan community in Los Angeles
During the same ceremony, the organizers of the annual event, African Focus, through its chief executive, Mr. Wuchina, recognized the great work by the Nabagereka of Buganda Sylvia Naginda Luswata in her continuous efforts to revive the glory of the kingdom.
Mr. Wuchina lauded the ongoing campaign of the Nabagereka whose results of restoring the love and desire to preserve the Buganda culture especially among the youths are clearly visible in both Buganda and Uganda. In recognition of her outstanding work, Africa Focus presented an Excellence Award of the Year to the Nabagereka. The award was received on her behalf by the Kabaka representative Omugave Joseph Semakula Ndugwa.
The Nabagereka of Buganda Sylvia Naginda Luswata
On behalf of the over 50 inductees, Professor Nanseko pledged to work diligently for the prosperity of the communities and countries into which they had been inducted. On her own behalf, Professor Nanseko pledged to selflessly and loyally serve the kingdom of Buganda in its efforts to restore its economic, cultural, and political glory. She pledged that her mother and two daughters will endeavor to learn and grasp the cultural norms of their totem, ekinyomo, the clan roles and responsibilities to the Buganda kingdom.
Kabaka’s envoy to Southern California, Hawaii and Arizona, Joseph Ssemakula Omugave Ndugwa with the newly inducted Prof. Thekima Nanseko from San Diego College, California.
Meanwhile, last month, the Baganda living in Los Angeles, California, USA were joined by well-wishers from other communities from Uganda and other countries to celebrate the 61st birthday of the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi. Events to mark the 61st birthday of Kabaka Mutebi were hosted in North Hills, Los Angeles, at the residence of Joseph. Ssemakula, Omugave Ndugwa, Kabaka’s envoy to Southern California, Arizona, and Hawaii.
The festivities, held on Saturday April 16, were officiated by Rev. Sam Magala who also led prayers for the Kabaka, Buganda, Ugandans, and all well-wishers of the kingdom.
Some members of the Ugandan community living in Los Angeles, California during festivities to commemorate the 61st birthday of Kabaka Mutebi. Dressed in a Kanzu, is Joseph Ssemakula Omugave Ndugwa, Kabaka’s representative to Southern California, Arizona, and Hawaii who hosted the event.
Some of the events that highlighted the 61st birthday of Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi included recitations of poems in Luganda, a contest in Luganda proverbs (engero ensonge), kiganda traditional dances, a dinner, and a transnite disco dance, ekikeesa.