Centuries-old tradition of drum making in Uganda battling modernity

STORY: Centuries-old tradition of drum making in Uganda battling modernity DATELINE: March 13, 2022 LENGTH: 00:05:31 LOCATION: Kampala CATEGORY: CULTURE SHOTLIST: various of people making drumsSOUNDBITE 1 (Luganda): FRANCIS YIGA, Drum makerSOUNDBITE 2 (Luganda): FRANCIS YIGA, Drum makerSOUNDBITE 3 (Luganda): FRANCIS YIGA, Drum makerSOUNDBITE 4 (Luganda): FRED MWANJJE, Drum maker STORYLINE: Uganda is a country in the East African region with a rich diversity of cultures passed onto generations through oral storytelling and practice. A drum is one of the must-haves in communication for villagers in the traditional African setting. When village authorities use drums to pass on messages, residents have to listen carefully. It was also a key musical instrument in times of sorrow, a bad crop harvest, or in times of happiness, like enthroning a new king. Drums are now quickly being replaced by other forms of communication, putting the traditional drum-making skill on a collision course with modernity.

UGANDA-MPIGI-DRUM MAKERS

UGANDA-MPIGI-DRUM MAKERS

(220312) -- MPIGI, March 12, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Francis Yiga, an artisan, works on a drum in Mpambire Village of Mpigi District, Uganda, March 10, 2022. Mpambire, a village in the central Ugandan district of Mpigi, is known as the birthplace for drums in the country. The village is dotted with makeshift workshops where the drums are made from tree trunks and animal hides and skins. TO GO WITH "Feature: Centuries-old tradition of drum making in Uganda battling modernity" (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping)

UGANDA-MPIGI-DRUM MAKERS

UGANDA-MPIGI-DRUM MAKERS

(220312) -- MPIGI, March 12, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Francis Yiga, an artisan, speaks in an interview with Xinhua in Mpambire Village of Mpigi District, Uganda, March 10, 2022. Mpambire, a village in the central Ugandan district of Mpigi, is known as the birthplace for drums in the country. The village is dotted with makeshift workshops where the drums are made from tree trunks and animal hides and skins. TO GO WITH "Feature: Centuries-old tradition of drum making in Uganda battling modernity" (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping)