Buganda Royal Court Music

Buganda royal court music is the refined ensemble music maintained for the Kabaka, the king of Buganda in central Uganda, at his court in Mengo. Its repertory is organised in named suites for specific instruments and occasions: interlocking amadinda and akadinda log xylophones, the ennanga arched harp, endere flutes, entenga tuned drums and lyres, played by hereditary royal musicians in fixed groupings. Court dances such as baakisimba complete the ceremonial setting. Long regarded as the most developed court tradition of the African Great Lakes, it was documented by field recordists before the royal institutions were abolished in 1966.