Kiga People - Traditional Life

Traditional Life

The traditional Bakiga were a highly segmented society who came to Kabale in south Uganda from today's Rwanda. They believed in Ruhanga, the Creator of all things. They also had several cults, among which the most important was Nyabingi - the spirit of a much respected rain-maker.

Bakiga were mainly agriculturalists, and kept significantly less livestock than other pastrolist groups in neighbouring tribes. They grew sorghum, peas, millet, sweet potatoes, vegetables, and beans. These were supplemented with pumpkins, yams and variety of green vegetables. Meat was food reserved for special events in the community, mainly for births, weddings and funerals. Food was always prepared in abundance. It was and is still considered good manners for a visitor to join a family eating a meal without invitation. The Bakiga were producing beer, omuramba, from sorghum, as they still do today. To enjoy it, people would sit on wooden stools surrounding a pot, and drink it through long tubes. The non-fermented form of the same sourghum drink, called obushera, was consumed hot or cold. Some among the Bakiga were great ironsmiths who were making hoes, knives, and spears. Pottery was also highly developed, and a wide range of carpentry existed. They reared bees and produced honey. Women and men were both involved digging and bush clearing. Men were solely responsible for erecting the housing magde out of grass thatch and papyrus. After a government decree in 1935 these hut walls were made out of mud, but still thacthed with wild grass or sorghum stalks. Nearly all activities were done communally. Men were dressed in one cow hide, in two if they were rich. The skin hung from the shoulder, covering private parts. A man would belt himself for a fight or a dance, while for clearing land one would normally be naked. Women used skirts made from several skins. A skin garment covered the torso. A woman of a wealthy husband wore brass rings on her legs and arms. These rings could extend from the wrist to the legs, and from the ankles to just below the knees.

Virginity was very important. If an unmarried girl got pregnant, she would be taken to a forest, tied to a tree, and left to the mercy of animals. Alternatively, she would be thrown over a cliff. Kisizi Falls were most used for this purpose. At Lake Bunyonyi, a one meter high island was used for dumping these unfortunate girls. Migrating tribes or nomads unable to dowry for a bride would sometimes rescue these girls and take them for a wife. In these instances, the girl could never be returned to her community and had to move away. Though these practices have been stopped in recent times, unmarried girls or women who get pregnant today still face severe forms of alternative social sanctions within their communities or clans.

Marriage needed to be preceded by a payment of bride wealth, which meant cows, goats, and hoes. Ploygamy was the exception rather than the norm, practiced in specific clans or segments of households when widow inheritance occurred following the death of a married family member. Women of a polygamous man would not be from the same clan, because marriages were one of the rare things to bond together a very politically segmented society. A girl spent about a month in seclusion before marriage, to become well fed and instructed in home management. Although permitted, divorce was very rare and greatly discouraged. When it occurred, common reasons for divorce included if a husband or wife was barren, lazy, or had other bad unsociable traits. Divorced people could remarry, however, the woman's family could expect less bride wealth next time. Disagreements that could be leading to divorce were first tackled by consultation of elders. Settling disputes was a major role of elderly members of a clan. Clansmen elected a lineage head on the criteria of character (truthful, brave, a war-leader) and power (a rich man, a medicine man, or a priest). Different lineage heads would gather and publicly discuss potential issues of wider concern. What lineage heads did not solve together could result in fighting between groups. The Bakiga were natural born-warriors. They were known as tough, hardworking people that made formidable enemies. They still are.