Lecture
Una Europa–Africa Seed Funding Lecture | Documenting the collective memories of the lost heritage of the Basua of Bundibugyo
Event information
Date & location
From 1:00pm to 2:00pm CEST
Online via Zoom
Contact
'We died the day we left the forests.'
Join Professor Saudah Namyalo of Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda) for this special lecture exploring the cultural threats faced by the Basua, following their forced displacement from their traditional home in the Ugandan forest. Professor Namyalo will also discuss attempts to document and preserve the Basua's heritage.
This lecture is held as part of the Enhancing Linguistic Scholarship in Eastern Africa (ELSEA) project – an initiative made possible by Una Europa–Africa Partnership Seed Funding.
The Basua, also known as the Batwa of Bundibugyo in Uganda, formerly lived as foragers in the Semulik forests. In 1993, they were violently evicted under the guise of conservation by the government of Uganda. Having been forced from their natural habitat, the Basua are gradually losing their unique heritage. They are starting to adopt the traditions of the local communities and are increasingly shifting to the primary languages spoken in the region, including Lubwisi, Kwamba, and Lukhonzo.
With their culture under threat, there exists a significant risk of assimilation. This will jeopardise their language and identity, and will compromise their ability to transmit and preserve traditional knowledge and skills for future generations.
Drawing from the testimonies of the Basua, Professor Saudah Namyalo will discuss the Basua’s lost heritage. In addition, she will explore the possibilities and challenges of documentation and preservation attempts.
Una Europa–Africa Partnership Seed Funding
This lecture is held as part of the Enhancing Linguistic Scholarship in Eastern Africa (ELSEA) project – an initiative made possible by Una Europa–Africa Partnership Seed Funding.
The Una Europa–Africa Partnership unites the Una Europa alliance with eight African universities (Eduardo Mondlane University; Kampala International University; Makerere University; University of Ghana; University of Johannesburg; Université de Kinshasa; University of Nairobi; University of the Witwatersrand) to achieve a common vision: building a vibrant community of researchers across Europe and Africa to address global challenges.