THE MEANING OF "𝐎𝐌𝐔𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐀" IN ANKOLE MARRIAGES

The Banyankore refer to their giveaway ceremony as okuhingira (recognizing the marriage of their daughter commonly known as give-away) during which a bride is officially handed over to the groom’s family.

During the ceremony the parents provide material support in form of gifts to their daughter to assist her settle in her new home. The most important of the gifts is omugamba which comprises various items.

Omugamba stands for the long stick where the various items are suspended during transportation and display. The gifts are put on a stick to save the carrier’s time and energy by transporting all the items at once. Each item on the omugamba has its specific use as explained below.

#Ebyanzi (milk pots)

Ebyanzi are wooden vessels that look like pots and which are for serving and storing milk.

They are wooden vessels made of smoked black wood and covered with beautiful, handmade covers known as emihaiha, woven with sisal and other fibres printed in geometric patterns. These vessels are used while milking, serving and storing milk. They are sometimes given according to the number of cows the bride’s family has received as bride price.

 

#Ekirere

Ekirere is a small calabash used for drinking skimmed milk or preparing yoghurt which is known as amakamo.

According to an article by Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity on Banyankore nutrition, amakamo is made by sieving raw milk in the morning.

The article explains that in the evening, the pan full of milk is tilted to only pour out the milk at the top, which is set aside to produce the ghee. The skimmed milk is then boiled, warmed, sieved again and poured into the big calabash to rest during the night.

The next morning, the milk is slightly solidified and it can either be taken as bongo or be gently shaken to liquefy, and then poured into ekirere.

#Ekishaabo (churning gourd)

This is a big calabash used during churning to get ghee. After milking, milk is kept in the kishaabo for some days to allow it to ferment into yoghurt before churning to produce ghee.

#Engyemeko (A clay pot)

This is a container used for storing warm water for the family head to wash his hands and face.

#Eicuba

This is a wooden container/ bucket used to draw water and fill the drinking trough during okweshera (time when cows are provided water for drinking).

#Rukomyo

This is a perfume pot used for personal hygiene. It is a pot with three holes where scented herbs are placed and burnt to produce a scented smoke used as perfume by women.

#Ekicunga

This is a clay pot used to fumigate milk pots/ gourds.

#Akacwende

This is a calabash used for storing perfumed ghee which is used as petroleum jelly by women. The ghee in the calabash is mixed with scented herbs to produce a nice scent.

#Enkuyo

This broom-like tool made of sisal is used during milking to keep flies away from the cow while milking.

#Emboha

This is a rope made of sisal that is used to tie the hind legs of a cow when milking

#Endiiro

This is used to keep Millet tapioca (Oburo) of bride who turns to be the head of a family (Isheeka)

Mwebare munonga

Rukundo egumeho

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