Cultural identity and royal symbolism in Uganda: regalia in the investiture of the King of Buganda

Abstract

As an invented tradition of Uganda, the investiture of the King of Buganda stands out as one of the defining practices impacting cultural identity and the expression of power in the country. The regalia emerges as an iconography of regal glory which serves to legitimize power. This paper addresses the following questions: first, how would the investiture of the King of Buganda be seen in the context of visual narratives of cultural identity in Uganda? Second, how did the regalia serve to legitimize the power of the monarch to elevate his socio-political status in the country? Third, how does the King of Buganda become recognizable through art and adornment? Using a reflective, multistranded approach, this essay studies the material culture of Buganda accession ceremonies by integrating interviews with coronation officiants and painted depictions by the lead author. We argue that the royal regalia of monarchs offers visual symbolism that is enduring and significant, deeply owing to an ‘invented’ tradition and enshrined customs in a people’s culture – in this case, of Buganda’s kings.