Abstract
In his painting and book project, Totems of Uganda: Buganda Edition (2014), Ugandan artist Taga Nuwagaba asks: What is the function of a totem? In Buganda, the historical kingdom in current-day Uganda, totems serve as unique identifiers for fifty-two distinct patrilineal descent groups designated as clans, or ebika in the Luganda language, forming the primary scheme of social and political organization. Yet, totems also serve as a conservation practice. In this 2022 interview, Nuwagaba discussed his art and the evidence he relies upon to create his images, demonstrating that identities and knowledges are complex.
Munna Uganda Taga Nuwagaba abuuza nti: emiziro gya mugaso ki? Kino ekibuuzo gwe musingi gw’ebifaananyi byeyasiiga n’ekitabo kyeyawandiika byeyatuuma, Emiziro gya Uganda: Olufulumya lw’emiziro gya Buganda. Mu matwaale ga Buganda, kati agasaangibwa mu nsi emanyiddwa nga Uganda, emiziro bwebubonero bw’ebika by’abaganda ataano mu ebibiri era girambulula ab’ekika ekimu kyebeddira. Kyokka, emiziro era giyamba ne mu kukuuma eby’obutonde. Mu mboozi eno eyakwajja mu mwaaka 2022, Nuwagaba alambulula obukakafu bweyesigamako mu kusiiga ebifaananyi, mu ngeri eyo n’atulaga nti obuzaale n’okumanya bikalubo.
Recommended Citation
Nagawa, Margaret and Taga F. Nuwagaba. "Art and Evidence in Totems of Uganda (2014)." Artl@s Bulletin 13, no. 1 (2024): Article 7.
