Baganda Cultural Night

So the internet finally worked to upload pictures. Video to come tomorrow!

During Envisioning, we had a cultural night hosted by the Baganda people (the main tribe in Uganda's central region). It was quite the experience and really fun! I definitely felt out of place as an American, though eating on the ground wasn't completely abnormal thanks to my camp experiences. ;) 

Fiona and Aunt Noelina serving up the meal.

We all sat on mats on the ground, except for the family father. I was with Samuel family, my family group. Fiona, an older high school student, acted as our family "mother," with a full gomez borrowed from Aunt Esther, the real family mother. In the Baganda tradition, the family mother is responsible for serving the food to the family. 

Kenneth - our family "father," hence the fancy table & chair

We had 15 people in our circle, but no one was allowed to eat until everyone had been served and the family father had taken the first bite. Kenneth, an Investment Year student (IY is basically a gap year mid-high school), served as our family "father." 

 The strangest part of the evening was definitely eating with my hands. No left hand allowed; instead, you use the first three fingers of your right hand (thumb, pointer, and middle finger). It astounds me how cleanly the Ugandans can eat with their hands...my hand was a nasty mess after dinner! 

Our dinner!

For dinner, we had wambo (peanut paste served in a banana leaf packet), matoke (yellow banana mash), sweet potato (which is actually white here), cassava (indescribable...), and meat sauce.

I managed to eat about half my plate! Thankfully, Uncle Godfrey explained that leaving food on your plate is a good thing in the Baganda culture, because it means you are satisfied. Still not entirely sure I believe that, but it made me feel better that night!