Kasubi Tombs Field Trip

Like I said last Thursday, there's nothing like a field trip. We left at 8am on the "dino bus" (our bus is painted with dinosaurs!). We had a relatively short ride to Kampala where we went to see the Kasubi Tombs. This is the site of the biggest hut in the world. The hut has 52 pillars holding it up to represent the 52 clans of the Bugandan people. (Like I said before, the country is Uganda, it's people are the Buganda, and they speak Lugandan.) Outside the hut was the drum hut where there is a man that drums a traditional rhythm several times a day. Women are not allowed in the hut because the drummer must be celibate and they don't want him to be tempted. Our funny tour guide said that while it may be an honor to be the drummer boy, we wouldn't catch him wanting to live that kind of life. :) There are a few other huts where some of the descendants of past King's wives live to be near the tombs. There is a fire that is kept burning 24/7 while the King is alive, and only is put out when he dies and they are appointing a new King. Because the Buganda want peace among the royal family, the eldest son is not allowed to be King, thus reducing jealousy and the son plotting to kill his father. Instead there is a counsel of people who pick the new King from all of the sons. The biggest hut in the world was impressive, but I expected it to be bigger. We removed our shoes to enter, and sat on the mat covered floor to listen to our guide. There weren't many decorations of adornments. In the center there was a display with portraits of the handful of Kings buried there and a line of their traditional spears. There was a stuffed jaguar and a table with two chairs given by the Queen of England for the King and his wife. I guess she didn't realize that he had 84 wives and more than 100 children. I was surprised at the simple and poor quality of the chairs. You would think that a Queen would be able to give the Bugandan King at least something semi-fancy, instead of just an ordinary set that could be found in anyone's house. Behind a curtain of bark cloth is where the Kings are buried. The tombs are dug into the ground, and extend behind the hut. Only the royal family is allowed to go back. They call it the "great forest", and instead of saying that the King has passed away, everyone must say "the King is lost in the great forest". Right now there is a President and a King. The King is the heart of the people, and he was critical is empowering people to take care of themselves and prevent the spread of AIDS, and he also helped women gain their right to vote. The King stays out of politics, and he is very loved among his people.

While we sat inside the hut the power went out and it started raining really hard outside. It was the first daytime rain that I got to see and I would have loved to run out into it. It felt very peaceful sitting on the floor of a hut, with the rain falling outside, listening to the story of the Bugandan Kings. The rain didn't last very long, but it cooled everything off nicely. We took some group pictures in front of the hut and stopped at the gift shop. I could have bought some paintings, but they were overpriced and I know I can get them for cheaper at a craft market. We loaded into the bus and dropped a few people off at the mall on our way back. I was going to go to a craft fair but then I heard we were having Grace's wonderful broccoli salad for lunch and I had to come back to get some. Now we are relaxing waiting for lunch to be put out. I'm not sure what the plans are for tonight but I think we might go out dancing. I know I haven't been out on the town yet, but I have been having so much fun becoming close with my new friends here that I haven't felt the need to go out and spend money.

Tomorrow is our rural visit. We aren't going to Charles' house, we are going to Faith's village instead. She was with us on the field trip and I asked her what to expect for this weekend. She said "Well, you will learn to prepare a traditional meal. Get ready to catch a chicken and kill it. Then you will get to skin and prepare it. And also bring your fun bag because we are going to have a lot of fun!" Oh dear... I have to butcher a chicken? Morgan is a vegetarian, so she wont want to do it so I guess it is between Ryan and I to decide who gets that honor. Part of me says that I should for the experience and because every meat eater should participate in the killing of an animal so that they can know the reality of their dietary choices. The other part of me says that I don't need to be emotionally scarred, and that I couldn't personally take something life away. We shall see. I am getting excited. It will be our first real experience of life here, because so far we have been pampered in our 5 star guest house. I think I will spend the rest of this afternoon getting next week's homework started so that I don't have to stress about it Sunday night.