Ministers dance for joy at CHOGM exhibition

Nov 18, 2007

CULTURE has a way of uniting people, even in the most unlikely circumstances. At the unveiling of the cultural festival on Thursday at the former Shimoni Demonstration school grounds, you could have smelt the love, the joy and spirit of togetherness in the air.

CULTURE has a way of uniting people, even in the most unlikely circumstances. At the unveiling of the cultural festival on Thursday at the former Shimoni Demonstration school grounds, you could have smelt the love, the joy and spirit of togetherness in the air.

And since this show was part of activities to mark the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) you could say, CHOGM has a way of uniting people.

For a moment you did not see the minister in Okello Oryem, (state for foreign affairs), but a towering dark, well-built gentleman dancing Laraka raka, his native dance. Even Amama Mbabazi tried a jig or two, imitating his vigorous Kikiga dance on stage.

He was only let down by his shoes and well-pressed suit.
For a moment you did not see the minister in Ssemakula Kiwanuka as he walked around cracking jokes with everybody. The cultural festival, whose theme is Unity in Diversity, was exactly that: bringing people of different cultures and walks of life together.

It was a night of music, dance and drama led by Steven Rwangyezi’s Ndere Troupe and relayed in a traditional folklore style with kids sitting around their grandfather at a fireplace, listening to folklore.

He told stories of great dynasties, beautiful landscapes, beautiful people and amazing cultures. They were punctuated by traditional dances of different cultures.

From Bunyoro, Buganda, Bugisu, West Nile to Kisoro this performance rekindled cherished memories of Uganda’s glorious past.

This was the opening to a series of cultural festivities including, music, dance, drama, food exhibits from different cultures that will run until December 1 at the Shimoni grounds.

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