Bamasaaba Bawandikha is Launched in a Huge Way

Wednesday 24th August marked a revolutionary chapter for the Bamasaaba. It was the night of the launch of Bamasaaba Bawandikha, a platform to promote Bagisu writers.

Conceived from the lack of deliberate celebration around writers from the Mt. Elgon region, poets, novelists, playwrights and film script writers, even with many making incredible strides in the literary industry, the gap needed to be bridged.

During the second Babishai Poetry Festival, a number of cotporates, writers, performers and well-wishers gathered in the Sun Lounge at Kati Kati in Kampala to celebrate the launch of a potential outstanding initiative. Present amongst the guests was George Manana, the honourable gentleman who translated the Constitution of Uganda into Lumasaaba, a project he said spoke volumes of the Constitution’s relevance moreso that certain words had no translation, like the word Constitution itself.

While he read parts of it, all in attendance were struck by the care and precision it must have taken to complete such a worthy project.
Honourable Jack Wamaii, Honourable MP of Mbale, launched the writers’ platform and emphasized the need to honour our country by not just reading what the Constitution desires but to follow it. For a nation to be great, good governance is pertinent and we all deserved to be lead by people of honour.

There were performances from younger Bagisu like poets Donald Maasa and Sammy Wetala and Jaq Dewei who also runs the Bamasaaba night at Silk Lounge.

The launch was the start of a long term project which would culminate in the promotion and production of more creative literature from the Bamasaaba and about the culture too.

Namagunga Primary wins The #Babishai2016 Schools’ Competition

“We see it but we don’t understand it. We understand it but we don’t own it.”

“Poetry is a teacher,  an emotional healer,  an activist, an intelligent mirror,  an appraiser,  a pleasure and a treasure in times of joy.”

 

St. Thereza Namagunga Primary School presented these unforgettable quotes during the #Babishai2016 Poetry Festival in August. The young brilliant minds redefined African poetry,  set the stage for a tremendous performance.

Competing against Hope Senior School Watoto,  the two schools put their best feet forward with incredible talent. Hope Senior School Watoto amused the audience when they began with a play where when a teacher asked them about a folk song,  the best they could do was a song from the 90s.

DE2_9622

Hope Senior School Watoto students

The younger girls of Namagunga stole the day when they performed Okot p Bitek’s poetry,  significant for the 50th anniversary of the first publication of Song of Lawino.

Towards the close,  there was a panel discussion led by the children. Acaye Pamela reminded us how words evoke emotion and truth and when it came to award-giving,  Mama Tendo,  proprietor of the Mama Tendo Foundation,  gave out the prizes and cerificates,  appreciating Babishai for the excellent work in promoting creative literature amongst children.

DE2_9735

Mama Tendo reading a poem