A night of drums at Ndere

Sunday nights there is a celebration of Uganda's culture and heritage at Ndere Center in Ntinda. Although I've been in Uganda over a year now I have never taken advantage of the opportunity to attend. Tonight we went with Pastor Charles, Pastor Mark, Ron, and my Mom. Krista and Josiah stayed home - which was good since the performance was outdoors and ran late into the night. Krista'll have to join me there sometime on a date when Josiah is old enough to stay with a sitter for a few hours.  Below is what my Mom said about the experience. -Shauen

~ Drummers at Ndere Cultural Center in Kampala ~ The event is held outside in a small amphitheater. We order drinks and are offered to order the buffet dinner, or a meat (chicken, pork or goat) and chips (French fries). The event begins with an introduction to the drums of Uganda, the various rhythms, and their meanings. A competition tests the skill of the drummers in their precision and accuracy, as well as proper execution of the rhythm. There is much laughing and hooting as one by one the drummers are eliminated, until only one remains. Then the dances are introduced. The dancers and musicians are energetic and amazing in their talents and skills. Every dance includes movement and rapid shaking of the hips. I am amazed at how fast and how long the movements are maintained! Rhythm and timing are perfect. Shauen tells me that in the villages even the infants bob with the rhythms of the music. It is around them always, becoming a part of their life and being.

~ Ndere dancers balance pots on their heads as they dance ~ All the dances tell a story. It is obvious one is a courtship dance, with many suitors vying for the lady’s hand and being spurned, until one finally wins her favor. One dance includes balancing small pots on the top of the heads of the women dancers. Pots are added as the women dance, until there are eight stacked on top of one another, rising above the dancers by about six feet! None are dropped and the women continued a slow dance up the stairs and out of the stage area with all the pots still balanced carefully atop their heads!

The emcee is very good, entertaining, and works with his audience. Many of the jokes are focused for the Ugandan people, which has the crowd roaring at times and us outsiders wondering what is so funny. Shauen has to explain several of them to me… They are pretty funny! As in a great deal of comedy there is some truism in the joking. In listening to the dialog and the interaction my impression is of a light hearted people who know themselves, know some of their strengths and weaknesses, and can laugh at themselves.

At the same time the dancers and musicians portray a people composed of many individual tribes who are proud of their heritage and their culture. This night is the graduation of five young students who are learning to play the instruments and to dance the native dances. These young people, the youngest looks to be about 8 years old, perform a number of pieces with the drums and several dances. They are incredible. How wonderful to recognize their achievement and graduation in front of this large audience and allow them to perform as well. The applause and smiles speak volumes of the pride of the Ugandans in their culture of music and dance.