As the controversial festival named Nyegenyege kicked off last week, it caused mixed reactions in Uganda parliament and leadership which after a heated debate was let to proceed in Jinja Uganda from September 15 to 18, 2022.
But this time around the festival didn’t go well on Burundian side as Gitega has threatened to take tough measures towards the drummers who ‘misused the drums’.
“We are aware of the misuse of the Burundian sacred Drum, during the “Nyege Nyege 2022″festival in Uganda. The Ministry in charge of Culture informs national and international opinion that it will never tolerate anyone who violates Burundian Culture and customs,” statement read from the Ministry of culture, sports and East African Community.
Comments emerged after the diverse reaction on social media when photos and videos of a half-naked ladies showed up while performing the ritual dance during a 4 days music festival held at Itinda falls in Jinja.
“The Ministry takes this opportunity to recall that the exploitation of the Burundian drum, already registered at UNESCO since 2007 as World Cultural Heritage, is governed by Decree nº100/0196 of 20th/10/2017.Any offender will be prosecuted for penalties provided by law.”
Photos and videos of ladies dancing and performing while drumming went viral on social media, the incident took place during the 3rd day of Nyege Nyege Festival.
“She is not a Burundian according to our information. Enjoy our drums but don’t misuse them. There is an entire decorum about them,” reacted Fred Ngoga a Burundian diplomat working at the Office of the African Union.
“You should already be aware that it was your citizens that were playing the drums…deal with them on your own terms and leave us out of it,” Ntare Lucky one of the netizens reacted.
In 2017 Burundi government introduced a law aimed at conserving and protecting the country’s ritual dance of the royal drum, if without special authorization the law prohibits any performance of the dance with exception of official ceremonies.
It should be noted that Burundi drums were the pillars of the monarchical power and sacred, these were used in only special occasions and important places that proclaimed the country’s great events such as the coronation of a monarch, the funeral of a sovereign and the new agricultural season.