Traditional transmission of health knowledge in Uganda

Traditionally, knowledge about health and herbal medicine was passed on orally within families in Uganda.
But dance, drumming, rituals, singing, storytelling and public speaking also played an important role in passing on knowledge about the body and health. In some rural communities in Uganda, where access to modern media is limited, such traditional forms of communication still act as lively and effective tools for imparting knowledge.

"When knowledge dances, speaks and drums, it reaches hearts, minds - and entire villages. This creates strong, sustainable bridges of understanding and healing between modernity and tradition", 
says Ugandan literary scholar Aaron Mushengiezy.

„Talking drums“

‘Talking drums’ convey messages. The king of Buganda, one of the traditional kingdoms in Uganda, for example, used certain drum beats in earlier times to call for health campaigns such as the cleaning of wells. Even today, drums in some places call for immunisation, warn of cholera or remind people of hygiene rules. Each drum has its own meaning - a system that works without writing, but with great precision.

Performance of Ndere Troup: “Talking drums” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z6almH9obk
More information on drumming in Uganda:https://www.face-music.ch/instrum/uganda_drumen.html

Storytellers and village spokespeople

Traditional storytellers often have a wealth of knowledge about plants, nutrition, health, illness and sexuality. They pass this on in the form of stories and tales. The ndiwulira fable, for example - in which a corn beetle that ignores warnings is cooked - has been successfully used in AIDS education. Stories like this educate without lecturing - with humour and emotion. They are anchored in the everyday lives of the local population and are therefore easy to understand and relate to. In the villages of some regions, matalisi (‘village spokespeople’) take on the role of lively news transmission. Equipped with a drum and voice, they provide information about vaccination campaigns, epidemics or misbehaviour - directly, publicly and emphatically.

Dance

Dance also plays a crucial role in passing on knowledge and practices. Traditional healers in Uganda use dance to tell stories that convey the healing properties of plants and the meaning of rituals. These performative elements create a link between the community and the healing traditions, passing on knowledge in a way that is both emotional and educational. The movements and rhythms of dance are often linked to specific healing methods and practices, making them an integral part of the learning process.
An example of this practice is the Bakisimba dance, which is popular in the Buganda region. This dance is often performed at ceremonies associated with healing and spiritual purification. The dancers embody the forces of nature and ancestors, which helps the audience to develop a deeper understanding of the connection between humans and nature.
Many female healers use dance to share their knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses. This practice not only promotes knowledge, but also strengthens the role of women in the community.
The performative arts are living archives of traditional knowledge and highly dynamic forms of knowledge transmission.

The Traditional Medicine in Transition project is investigating, among other things, the extent to which such performative forms of communication can also be used in the future to effectively pass on knowledge about the body and health. A combination of traditional performative and narrative elements with modern media is also conceivable.

Source:
Ongoing research (unpublished manuscripts)
Mushengyezi, Aron, 2003. Rethinking Indigenous Media: Rituals, 'Talking' Drums and Orality as Forms of Public Communication, in: Journal of African Cultural Studies , Jun., 2003, Vol. 16, No. 1, Special Issue Focusing on the Media in and about Africa (Jun., 2003), pp. 107-117. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/3181389)