The Bull Drum group perform their folk dance and below, the brewery they designed. PHOTO BY Lawrence Ogwal
The two-month-long search for the Chibuku regional tours came to pass with a grand finale at the National Theatre last Friday. No wonder when the search went to the east, the Jinja event drew thousands of revellers — the biggest number registered since the competitions kicked off last year.
It was perhaps the too much support Bull Drum group was showed in Jinja and later in Kampala that made them win. Bull Drum beat nine other groups from the five divisions of Kampala, Mbarara Sub-region, Mbale and Masaka.
The winners walked home with a cash prize of Shs3m and a set of instruments worth Shs1.5m. According to the judges, most of whom were from the Performing Arts department of Kyambogo University, Bull Drum, unlike the other groups exhibited a lot of energy and creativity.
The fact that the company that produces Chibuku (Nile Breweries Limited) is located in Jinja, the group came with their locally-made brewery, made from a box, with a tube showing Chibuku flowing in the pail. They did this as they praised Chibuku.
Despite being based in Kampala, the group did everything in Lusoga, stayed original and this could perhaps have earned them extra points because they showed love for their culture. They performed dances strictly from their region; the famous Nalufuka and the Akadinda dance from Busoga.
In second position was the Luwombo dancers from Kamwokya (Nakawa Division), who took home Shs2m and a set of Chibuku-branded dance costumes.
The other groups performed the usual dances from Buganda; the Ankole cultural troupe did the Ekitagururo while the Bamasaaba from Mbale performed the Kadodi and Imbalu dance.
According to the Chibuku brand manager James Wadada, the competitions will continue next year and it will also include the northern region. The cash prize will be doubled.
