Ndere Cultural centre : Uganda is a small landlocked country found in East Africa. A good part of the country is covered by Lake Victoria and other water bodies like the river Nile. Its capital is Kampala but there are 5 newly established cities. Uganda is a country truly “gifted by nature”. It is strategically located at a point where the tropical rain forests of West Africa meet the East African Savannah grassland hence allowing the country have the best of both worlds. Uganda has 10 national parks, 12 wildlife reserves and 13 wildlife sanctuaries. In these protected areas, there are unique plants and creatures, some of which are endemic to the country.
But aside from the flora and fauna of the country, the country is also a place full of different cultures and norms the country has four ethnic groups. Ethnic groups in Uganda include the Bantu, the Nilotic, the Nile Hamates and the Hamates. The largest ethnic group in Uganda is the Bantu with the Baganda taking up a high percentage of the Bantu group. And Uganda has many tribes that speak different languages. 56 tribes and about nine indigenous communities.
this signifies that there are also different cultural activities in Uganda, because different groups behave differently. there also different cultural sites and these include: kasubi Tombs, Fort Baker, Baha’i Temple, Igongo Cultural Centre, The Wamala Tombs, Kanyange and Nnamasole Baagalayaze Tombs, Nyero Rock Paintings, The Coronation Site in Buddo, Itaaba Kyabanyoro, Katereke Prison Ditch, Nakayima Tree, Nkokonjeru Tombs, Ssezibwa cultural site, karambi Tombs, Mparo Tombs, Bigo bya Mugenyi, Uganda Martyrs Shrine in Namugongo, Namirembe and Rubaga Cathedrals, The Kabaka’s Lake cultural site, Kings Palace in Mengo and Parliament and so very many others all these cultural sites bare different information about the groups in guard and the tribes I Uganda.
One wouldn’t mention cultural centers and miss out on the ndere cultural center, Ndere Cultural center is a home of all Uganda cultures and the Kampala Cultural Night. It’s built on 9 acres of well-maintained green, beautifully flowered walk ways and with fruit and other African trees. The rare architectural design of the Ndere Centre is a seamless combination of artistic creativity with simplicity that takes African forms, materials, colors and construction to unprecedented heights.
Ndere Centre is located in Bukoto, a Kampala suburb. Within the Centre is a group known as Ndere Troupe which entertains people through traditional dances and music originating from the different local tribes in Uganda. The Ndere Troupe performs at the Centre and also different events like weddings, business events, parties and other social gathering. They can also perform at any place of convenience like at the hotels or lodges. However, there main performances are at the Ndere Centre every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The performance held on the aforementioned days is open to everyone who wishes to attend.
Ndere come comes from the word Endere, Endere means flute, a musical instrument used universally by all world cultures. It was founded in 1986 and has over time exceeded the prospects of the guests to move across the borders of Uganda to part of the east and central African region performing dances of the indigenous people giving it monopoly of a whole 3 hours of a cultural evening while in Kampala-Uganda. If you’re interested in traditional dance and music, try to catch a dinner-theatre performance of the Ndere Troupe. Ndere Centre has been around for many years performing the songs and dances from various tribes in Uganda as Rwanda. An evening that will simply delight you as you watch various performers in traditional dress charm the audience with skills in dance and musical instruments that are just great. The troupe has a lovely base way out in Ntinda, which includes a 700-seat amphitheater, a restaurant-bar and a guesthouse.
Activities at Ndere cultural center
Photography: get to have some exclusive shoots at the sight that will stay as memories when you get back home and share with your friends and families as well.
cultural music: experience the best cultural music you can ever listen to at the site most especially on Sundays as you also get to see the dances of different tribes in Uganda and the neighboring’s
Cultural skits and poems: listen to cultural skits and poems that will give you the brief histories of the different tribes in Uganda through acting and poems and dances that describe it all out minus you having to go through books, Ndere Cultural centre
Local meals: get to taste the meals that are provided on Wednesdays at the center and also get to learn about the local dish makings at the ndere cultural center and also have the best time of your Kampala safaris tours.
Visit the Uganda museum: just a few miles from the ndere center get the chance to have a stopover at the Uganda museum another cultural center in Uganda that will also add onto your adventure of the day and in fact get to learn further more about the cultures of Uganda.
Cultural shopping: get to buy some carry back home cultural art pieces to take to the people left at home from the art shops around and also keep some for yourself to see in the future as a remembrance for your stopover at the ndere cultural center.
Cultural Night: Uganda is Africa’s cultural microcosm. Ndere Troupe captures the amazing cultural songs, dances and unique instruments from the 56 nationalities (tribes), weaves them with humorously informative stories and presents them in an authentic but artistically developed spectacle every Wednesday and Friday at 7pm, and Sundays at 6pm – an experience not to be missed by the entire family. For international guests to Uganda, this is the best introduction to Africa’s culture and ways of life, and firm bridge to your own country and culture.
Accommodation in a uniquely relaxing experience
Relax in serene accommodation and wake up to a sumptuous breakfast. The quiet, spacious and endless fountain of fresh air will give you the perfect holiday experience. Families and groups will find cottages most homely and private. and all these can be arranged for you in case of any desire to sight one of the greatest cultural centers in Uganda.
