Kadodi dance performance and community mobilization for social and economic emancipation of the bamasaaba people in Mbale district, Uganda

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the performance of Kadodi dance as a tool for community mobilization of the Bamasaaba people in Mbale district to engage in activities that might improve their social and economic conditions. The objectives of the study were to find out how: Kadodi instrumental music and dance motifs could contribute to community mobilization for economic and social improvement of the Bamasaaba in Mbale district; family and clan union and re-union during Kadodi dance could contribute to community mobilization for economic and social improvement of the Bamasaaba in Mbale district; identifying with Kadodi dance could contributes to community mobilization for economic and social improvement of the Bamasaaba in Mbale district. The researcher used an ethnographic study design and collected qualitative data from 25 purposively selected respondents. The main data collection instruments were interview, participant observation and focus group discussions. The key findings were that: Bamasaaba unite and support one another as families and clans during Kadodi dance, and this can translate into pooling of resource capital for income generating projects in the communities. Kadodi dance artifacts promote cultural tourism. Performers can be hired by politicians during campaigns because of its power to pull crowds and entertainment. The songs they compose during the Kadodi dance can be archived to form a poetic repertoire that can be used as a reference since the lyrics talk about salient issues that affect their society. The study recommended that the elders, cultural institution and political leaders, need to embrace Kadodi dance as a strong medium for mobilization of their communities for social and economic emancipation. If the encouragement is given to Kadodi dance, it will go a long way at awakening and creating awareness of the community who look at the traditional dance as a mere source of fun and cultural identity but instead use it for social economic emancipation.