Music and Come Good Rain

Music Examples

This piece was created in Uganda using their traditional instruments, particularly, it features the bow harp. With this piece the artists share the message: “To all Everyone in this world we all matter. And coming up as a collective makes us strong and helping each other in whatever do, that’s how we can make the world free and a place for everyone. This is what this piece is about” (Sadam, 2018). The message behind this piece speaks on a universal level to strength of Seremba’s writing and resilience in his story. This piece presents the creative team with the opportunity to use it for inspiration whilst they are creating.

Throughout the play, Seremba makes use of Ugandan Drums. This video provides many examples of Ugandan drums being used to pass down historical stories. This video may help inspire the creative team to further understand the power of storytelling through music, and the cultural significance in Seremba using drumming in his work to help tell his story.

This piece of music highlights the differences in music in the variety of ethnic groups throughout Uganda. Particularly, it focuses on the disparities in rhythm. This piece will allow the creative team to have a stronger cultural understanding of Uganda as a whole. It will also allow the creative team to explore how music and different rhythms effect the way in which the body understands, moves, and responds to music.

Folk Music in Uganda

Geographically, Uganda is divided into four main regions: Central Uganda, Northern Uganda, Eastern Uganda and Western Uganda. Each region has significantly distinct traditional music as per the tribes and ethnicities that belong to those specific geographical locations.

Traditional folk music in Uganda is mainly functional. This signifies that music has a very specific role in cultural and religious activities and events, such as marriage, initiation, royal festivals, harvests and wars. This music is usually performed by skilled tribesmen and women who not only play various traditional musical instruments, but also sing folk songs and perform traditional dances.

The idea that traditional music holds fundamental functions in

Ugandan society is very intriguing to look at from a ritual performance perspective. In this way, these specific events can be perceived as types of performances. This allows us to understand that performance is heavily engrained in the very origin of Ugandan tradition. It is hence very understandable that Seremba made this dramaturgical decision to integrate this traditional value to his oeuvre.

Western Uganda

Instruments:

endigindi (one-stringed fiddle)
amakondere (trumpets)
engoma (drums)
omukuri (flute)
enanga (trough zither)

Songs:

Kundiba Nafire, (if I die): a lullaby that mothers sing to their children to make the most of the lessons they are learning in life

Central Uganda

Instruments:

ngalabi (long round-shaped drum)
Endongo
adungukadigindi (a type of fiddle)
Harps
Lutes

Songs:

Amaggunju: also a lullaby song that refers to soothing royal infants

Eastern Uganda

Instruments:

single-tone gourd trumpets

Songs:

Kadodi: a specific song traditionally performed during circumcision ceremonies

Northern Uganda

Instruments:

Gourds
Calabashes
Drums
angwara (flute)
addungu (bow harp)
Xylophone
ukelele
whistle.

Songs:

Ding Ding: a song performed by girls who are developing into women