Arts and Crafts in Uganda

All you need to Know about Uganda Arts and Crafts ,Art and craft supplies, art and craft ideas, kid’s art and crafts, art and craft projects from Different Tribes in Uganda

Are you looking for general information about Uganda Arts and Crafts in Uganda from time immemorial to present day? This page will guide you about Ugandan tribe crafts and how they are made.

Arts and Crafts or Craftsmanship is a practice that has been passed down from generation to generation.

Welcome to the page that will show you how different tribes in Uganda engage in different craftsmanship in uganda

Arts and Crafts tools have been developed through the traditions of the people. And this gives the result of the feelings of the people responding to a variety of historical events and influences and the environment in a most spontaneous manner.

Arts and Crafts are the creation of works of beauty through the application of skill resulting from knowledge and regular practice.

Manual and artisan skills have been handed from one generation to the next one. Over time, their form, design, decoration (ornaments) and expressiveness have created an identity of its own within such communities (communes).

Basketry, pottery and basic daily commodities for the household or for the daily work on the fields were also produced in common; the same was true for tools for the hunt and the prestige. Typical design forms and ornaments have become characteristic for such a community (tribe). For this reason, it is now possible to allocate the production of certain articles in their chronological and local framework to a certain community.

Arts and Crafts were manufactured gourd vessels (calabassa) and wooden vessels used for food or drinks; pottery was manufactured without a potter’s wheel; water pipes for smoking cannabis; basketry for daily use; beer baskets or mats made from grass; vestments and coverage made from felts or barkcloth; tails and aprons; belts and girdles; hair dressing and face ornaments; amulets; necklaces or beads, arm and leg decoration, bracelets, rings; further shields, spears, bows and arrows; swords, dancing weapons; hunting knives; finger knives and wrist knives; hunting gear. Decorations, fetish cult figures and ritual masks are carved from wood.

For example, the Karimojong (a Hamite tribe) make their hairdressing from human hair which is felted with grease and clay. This construction is then strengthened by means of a wire netting around the front edge. Then there is made a pattern in the colours red, blue and yellow. The eyelets above the crown and at the backside serve to hold peacock feathers and other ornaments.

Apart from these daily commodities for the household, for the work on the fields or for the battle, there are also produced ritual objects. Fetish figures, masks. Multi-headed spears were used in ceremonial or magic-religious practices. In these rites, pots with several mouths were used to poison the victim having attracted the wrath of the Kabaka (king) with poisoned beer.

The Luo (River-Lake-Nilotes) and the Basamia-Bagwe (Bantu tribe) use pots with two mouths in certain rituals, especially those in connection with the birth of twins. In witchcraft, there are also used various objects such as for example totems and cult figures in order to bestow power on the magician in ceremonies. Such magical powers are supported by decorated utensils such as leopard skin, cow tails, tails, animal horns, and snake skin, feathers of rare birds, shells and beads.

Goods made from plastics and aluminum have conquered the market of Arts and Crafts and hence sort of eliminated the local and traditional handicrafts. More and more people used products made from plastics, such as, for example, jerry cans, mugs and bowls. Regional and local artisans have now started to produce traditional goods in modern forms and designs, in this way fighting their way back onto the market. This branch seems to be growing and has an enormous potential as these products may be sold to tourists. Everything is based on the fact that the handicraft and art of the inhabitants with its traditional ornaments is to be expressed in new forms and designs.

Traditional Arts and Crafts tools making on the other hand is taken as an occupation, especially one in which skills or techniques in the use of the hands are needed.

It includes utensils like basketry, pottery, wood-curving and the like.

Ugandan arts and crafts are so varied that one needs to pay attention to various ethnic setting in order to exhaust it.Click here to read about different tribes and their culture

One has also to make distinctions and give similarities that occur within the tools of different ethnic groups.

The differences that appear in these tools are consequences of the cultural practices of each ethnic group.

Further still, ethnologists hold that since multi-headed spears are almost always connected with ceremonial or magic-religious practices, so are the multi-mouthed pots were used to give poisoned beer to the victim who had incurred the wrath of Kabaka.

The Luo and some Bantu groups – the Basamia and Bagwe

use a double mouthed pot in certain religious rites, especially those connected with the birth of twins.

Generally, on the domestic and cultural level of Ugandan arts and crafts can be identified under the following categories:

gourd vessels and wood vessels for food and drinks;

pottery;

pipes;

basketry;

stools;

miscellaneous household objects;

clothing and adornments;

skins and barkcloth;

tails and aprons;

belts and girdles;

hair dressing;

headdresses and facial ornaments;

neck, arm and leg ornaments

shields, spears, bows and arrows;

swords,

dancing weapons;

hunting knives;

finger knives and wrist knives; hunting gear and sound instruments.

Although there are differences which are prominent, especially as regards their functions and designs, there are qualities that bind arts and crafts together.

In this respect, one should look at the very methods by which different tool-works are made by different nationalities.

For example, the large field and storage baskets used in Teso are made using wicker work with heavy materials.

Wicker work baskets are also common among the Basoga, Banyoro, Bahuutu and Acholi.

The local potter in the village builds his pots of whatever description and function from the base upwards to the rim.

The potter uses the coiling method. Thus the method of pottery making is the same for the Alur, the Batooro, the Basoga, and the Lango

Generally, pottery is the work of the specialized craftsman. Among some ethnic groups like the Langi,Bakiga, and the Bahuutu, however, the men make pots for their households.

In most tribes the potter is an insignificant member of the community, while among the Baganda the royal potters who worked for the Kabaka had a special title, special privileges like exemption for the lumuo tax and wore special aprons as their insignia.

Among the Bavuma arts and crafts industry entails considerable co-operation between a number of people of both sexes; women make pots while men act as middlemen and salesmen.

In the case of Baganda, Banyoro, and Basoga the potters are men and there are strong taboos against women approaching the clay pits.

For Bavuma, Bagishu, Acholi and Madi, the potters are women. Then in other tribes both men and women do pottery. These include the Bakiga, Bahuutu, and Bairu.Click here to read about the cultural details of these tribes

While the process of pot building is very similar in every tribe, there are still variations in the time taken drying and the method of firing.

Making musical instruments involves men. Even the use and manipulation of musical instruments such as drums and fiddles was strictly meant over men alone.

However, due to external influence and introduction of schools today, all sorts of people participate fully in the playing of musical instruments.

Basketry is one of the most highly developed part of arts and crafts in Uganda. It is at the foundation of home making. Basketry is essential in building houses, stockades, fences or enclosures, pens, traps for wild animals, baskets and mats.

Recently, redesigning has been emphasized to produce modern items like hand bags, table mats, flat trays, ornament baskets and mats wit different patterns. Most of these come from Buganda, Toro, Kigezi and Bunyoro.

Barkcloth-making and related arts and crafts are also common mostly in Bantu regions.

The natalansis tree (omutuba). The process involves the use of a specially made heavy, grooved mallet (ensaamu).

As the craftsman hits the bark with the mallet, the fibrous bark becomes thinner and larger.

Traditionally, the barkcloth was purposely made to be used as burial shrouds, bedding and clothing; and carpeting the floor of the kings’ palaces, especially in Buganda, Toro and Bunyoro

The barkcloth was replaced by cotton and other clothing materials, new items like tablemats, shoulder bags, hand bags, briefcases, purses, cushion covers and others have been made form barkcloth.

In most cultures, the making of metallic tools and other utilities by blacksmiths was also a common practice.

Blacksmiths made cutting tools, the majority of which were the spears and arrows.

Wood-curving is also another sector which has thrived traditionally and still thrives today in Uganda.

However, it has been very much influenced by external forces, especially in terms of design.

The commonest domestic woodcraft products include; stools, beds, mortars and pestles, bowls, ladles, trays, wooden canoes and others.

Some carvings are also done as decorations taking the form of masks, omweso boards, walking sticks and others.

Traditional arts and craft items in Uganda cultures include amulets, necklaces or beads, arm and leg ornaments, bracelets, rings, and headdresses.

For example, the Karimojong headdress is made form human hair felted together with grease and clay.

It is strengthened by a wire framework round the front edge.

It is patterned with red, blue and yellow paint. The metal eyelets across the crown and at the back are used t hold ostrich features and other ornaments.

Witchcraft also exists in all nationalities. Objects vary according to the powers possessed by the user.

Some may include decorated leopard skins, cow tails, and animal horns, skins of snakes, features of rare birds, shell and beads.

In modern times, there are clashes between cultures on arts and crafts. In Buganda for example, there are immigrants form all parts of Uganda and beyond.

There is thus a country-wide tendency of cultures influencing one another as regards arts and crafts . This however, could, lead to a strong political, social and economic integration in the sense that ethnocentrisms could die at a fat rate.

There has been a profusion of new materials and techniques. Plastic and aluminum products, for instance, have caused the dwindling of utilitarian local crafts like pottery.

More and more people in Uganda are using plastic ware like jerry cans, mugs and bowls. Most Ugandan crafts have therefore become ornamental.

This has brought Ugandan craftsmen together with one common need: to sell their work.

In the past when the markets were local, when life moved at a slow and even tempo and there were no buyers form overseas, there was no need to redesign the traditional craft for modern use.

While the production of craftworks by local craftsmen for sale is fairly recent, is fast growing and has great potential.

The main ideas behind it have been to preserve and encourage indigenous methods, to create jobs for local people, especially women, and to exploit the huge market.

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PLACES WHERE TO FIND ARTS AND CRAFTS IN UGANDA

Afriart Gallery - UMA Show Ground. Main exhibition hall. Tel: 0712 455555.

Aidchild Gallery - At the Equator on Masaka Road & Sheraton Hotel. Tel: 0772 616861.

Akiba, Iganga Road (just off main street), Jinja.Mobile:+256 752 700600/ +256 772 544199

Amani Art and Crafts Shop, Aspen Place Apartments, Shop 3 Ggaba Road, Bunga. Mobile: +256 772 516818

A&K 97 - Bat Valley. Tel: (0414) 251988, 0772 963965.

Banana Boat - Banana Boat - Crafts, Gifts, Interiors and Tribal Art in 3 Shops: 23 Cooper Road, Kisementi - Garden City Shopping Centre. Tel: 041-252190 - Lugogo Mall, Email: crafts@bananaboat.co.ug crafts@bananaboat.co.ug

Design Agenda - JIC Building, Parliament Avenue. Tel: 0772 718158. E-mail:designagenda@hotmail.com

Feel of Africa - 26 Hannington Road.(opp Crested Towers) Tel: 0772 420561.

Fundi Handyman Services Ltd - has two offerings:

Handyman Services, A professional quick fix for all property repairs & maintenance; electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting, and minor renovations.On-call Fundi. Bukoto-Kisasi Road, Opp Bar Gardens Pub. Tel: 0414 578 069.Cell: 077 246 2269. Email:fundi@postmaster.co.ug

Gallery Okapi - Ggaba Road. Tel: 0712 470015, Fax: (041) 268764

Katch the Sun, 3 Bandali Rise, Bugolobi.Mobile: +256 772 303200. Email: jeffersoncatherine@hotmail.com

Kreations Gifts - 55A Upper Kololo Terrace Tel: (0312) 280083/ 0712 767214 Fax: (041)34 52 38, www.kreationsgifts.4t.com/ email: farah@africaonline.co.ug

Kwetu Afrika - Lubowa Off Entebbe Rd, Tel: (0414) 200690 077419061, E-mail: kwetu@infocom.co.ug

La Fontaine, Plot 6 Bukoto Street, Kamwokya. Mobile: +256 772 406197. Email: kate@lafontainekampala.com. Website: www.lafontainekampala.com

Mama Moz Gallery Cafe - Wavamuno Rd, Munyoyo. Tel: 0712 834711

Makerere University Arts and Crafts Gallery, Tel: (041) 4531423. Mobile: +256 772 672218 / +256 752 598792. Email: artgallery@sifa.mak.ca.ug.

Moving Help - A professional interstate (Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda) moving, relocations and removals service.Mobile: 0772 462 269. Email: fundi@postmaster.co.uk

Mukisa Mpewa Clay Works Handcrafts - stall 19 behind National Theatre.

Naturaleaf, Mobile: +256 772 462221. Email: papers@naturaleaf.com. Website: www.naturaleaf.com

Neka Company Curio Shop - Kichumbayobo Main Gate Entrance, Masindi. Tel:0772 618603

Nommo Gallery - 4 Victoria Avenue, Nakasero. Tel: (0414) 234475, 0772 502553. E-mail: culture@africaonline.co.ug

Nyanzi Art Studio - National Theatre, Craft Village, Shop No.30. Tel: (0414) 344818, (0414) 257848

Paper Craft Africa, Mobile: +256 782 224026. Email: papers@papercraftafrica.com

Papula Paper. Mobile: +256 712314846 / +256 752 846806. Email: papulapapers@yahoo.com.

Persian Carpet Bazaar - Iranian and Persian carpets and gifts. Tel: 0712 403096, 0772 442591.

Persian Treasures - Garden City, The Market.

RA Antiques - 4 Pilkington Road, Colline House Ground Floor, Kampala. Tel: (041) 4254759. Mobile: +256 772 451169

Rising Sun Gallery & Cafe - 59 Luthuli Ave. Tel: (0414) 223249/5

Ruwenzori Arts and Crafts - Tel: 0712 493965, Email: inekejongerius@yahoo.co.uk

Tulifanya Arts and Crafts Gallery - 28/30 Hannington Road. Tel: (0414) 254183, Fax: (041) 267809.

The Acacia Tree, Unit 4 Metropole Hotel, Kampala, Uganda. Tel: +256 752 530278 / +256 712 530278. Fax: (041) 4343452. Email: theacaciatree@gmail.com

Uganda Crafts 2000 Ltd - Fair Trade + Stress free. Basement shop, Teachers House, Bombo Rd. Tel: (041) 250077.Email: ugandacrafts2000ltd@yahoo.com. Website: www.ugandacrafts2000ltd.org

Vee Bees Creations - Kisementi Shop 10. Tel: 0782 346653, (0414) 220563, E-mail: veebeescreations@aol.com.

Zeeds Collection Ladies Boutique - Shop 19 Cooper Road (next to Tas Salon)Shop 17 Kampala Road, Uganda House Arcade. Tel: 0712 495746. Email: y_bahl@yahoo.com

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