Masters Degree Dissertations

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12504/60

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Browsing Masters Degree Dissertations by Subject "African people"

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    Indigenous spirituality and fishing among the Basamia in Uganda
    (Kyambogo University(Unpublished work), 2025-10) Wafula, John
    This study explores the intricate relationship between Indigenous Spirituality and fishing activities among the Basamia in Uganda. It accordingly investigates how spiritual beliefs, rituals, and other cultural practices traditionally shaped and sustained the fishing activity which is currently facing a number of challenges. To analyze such a relationship, the study was guided by three specific objectives; to investigate the Indigenous spiritual beliefs and practices associated with fishing among the Basamia of Uganda, to analyze the centrality of the Basamia Indigenous spiritual traditions in sustaining the fishing activities of their area and to analyze the changes in fishing activities and their impact on Basamia Indigenous spirituality. Guided by a qualitative research approach, by use of phenomenological and ethnographic research designs and an interpretivist paradigm, the study used purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques to select participants like fishermen, mongers, boatswains, boat makers, owners, elders and religious leaders. Information was obtained through interviews, focus discussion groups, and observations. Content, thematic and narrative methods of analysis were used to bring out the real relationship between fishing and the indigenous spirituality of the Basamia. The findings of the study revealed that fishing among the Basamia was connected with their indigenous spirituality; through the observance of several beliefs in God “Nyasaaye”, deities like “Were” ancestral spirits “Emisaabwa” and the impersonal force “amaani”. Among the Basamia, the fishing activity was guarded by a system of restrictions and limitations in form of taboos, totems and performance of rituals “emisiro ne mikholo cho’bunaabi” like boat investiture rites “ohukwisira eryato”. These taboos and totems built more respect for the ecology (the lake and its inhabitants) and rendered the fishing activity sustainable. However, due to the forces of change in the fishing methods, gender dynamics and environmental pressures, most of these protective indigenous spiritual practices and beliefs have been disrupted while others have been completely abandoned. The study concludes that understanding the spiritualties of a society and its connectedness to fishing is vital for culturally grounded and sustainable fisheries management. The study advocates for the integration of indigenous community based sustainable practices and knowledge systems rooted in spirituality with the contemporary development policies and conservation frameworks as a means of supporting the revitalization of the declining fishing ecology.