Abstract
This study explores how the Baganda elite adjusted British India colony-style homes introduced during the colonial era to align with their traditional lifestyles. Designed to accommodate the central region's climate, these colonial-influenced residences, like Basiima House, were built with limited regard for local customs and cultural needs. However, the Baganda aristocracy modified these homes to suit their needs, offering valuable insights into the blending of colonial influence with traditional Buganda practices.
Introduction
By the 19th century, Buganda, one of East Africa's most powerful kingdoms, experienced major cultural and political shifts with the arrival of British colonialists and Christian missionaries. Situated to the north and west of Lake Victoria, Buganda was ruled by the Kabaka and recognized for its intricate social hierarchy. Colonial rule not only transformed the political structure but also introduced changes in architecture, clothing, and food among Buganda’s chiefs and aristocracy.
Before colonial influence, the Kibuga (the capital of Buganda, where the Kabaka and his chiefs lived) was frequently relocated, symbolizing a fresh start after the coronation of a new Kabaka. This tradition ended in 1884 when the Kibuga made its final move to Mengo under Kabaka Mwanga, as foreign powers and the British Protectorate began to occupy the hilltops previously desired by the Kabaka. Colonial rule introduced British India colony homes, which had a significant impact on the Baganda elite. Chiefs like Apollo Kaggwa adopted these colonial residences to signal their alignment with modernity. Kaggwa, after visiting England for King Edward VII’s coronation in 1902, returned to Buganda inspired by British architectural styles and constructed Basiima House. This residence combined traditional Buganda materials with elements such as chimneys, internal bathrooms, and verandas. Despite these Western influences, the Baganda elites found ways to modify their homes to preserve cultural practices. Buganda’s elite gradually adapted colonial-influenced homes in areas like Nakasero and Mengo. While aesthetically impressive, these homes were initially disconnected from Buganda’s traditional way of life. For instance, Apollo Kaggwa's Basiima House combined traditional Buganda materials with British design elements, blending local and colonial influences. The Baganda residents adapted these structures to better fit their cultural customs.
In traditional Buganda architecture, outdoor spaces were essential to family life, with activities such as cooking, communal gatherings, and farming conducted outside. British India colony homes, however, emphasized enclosed spaces meant for more private living. The large compounds attached to these colonial residences allowed the Baganda to adapt these homes to their traditional outdoor lifestyles.
In Basiima House, for example, the decorative lawn was transformed into a functional homestead space, where the residents practiced subsistence farming, a common cultural tradition in Buganda. The use of outdoor living spaces for communal activities mirrored the central role these areas played in family life.
The Baganda’s adaptations to colonial residences extended to the interiors. In traditional Buganda homes, there was fluidity between indoor and outdoor life. Communal activities and daily tasks often took place outdoors, creating a sense of openness and community. However, the colonial homes were designed with strict divisions between living spaces, which was foreign to the Baganda.
Basiima House, like many colonial residences, had multiple living rooms. However, the residents primarily used just one for family gatherings, leaving the others underutilized. This contrasts with traditional Buganda homes, where outdoor spaces were the focal point of daily activities.
Kitchens in colonial residences also reflected foreign concepts of space. In Buganda, cooking was done in separate outdoor kitchens using firewood or charcoal. The colonial homes, however, featured indoor kitchens. In response, the Baganda added outdoor kitchens for their traditional cooking methods, while repurposing indoor kitchens as storage areas or secondary entrances. This modification was another example of how the Baganda combined colonial structures with their cultural practices.
The modifications made to these colonial-influenced homes demonstrate how the Baganda elite infused them with personal and cultural significance. By adapting the spaces to align with traditional Buganda lifestyles, the Baganda turned colonial residences into homes that resonated with their cultural identity. As Cresswell (2004) noted, people create meaning by personalizing spaces, and this personalization fosters a sense of belonging.
For example, Basiima House, while built with British architectural elements, was adapted to include features of a traditional Buganda homestead, such as a compound for gardening and outdoor activities. By maintaining outdoor kitchens and communal spaces, residents preserved their cultural roots, even within the framework of British India colony homes. This study highlights how the Baganda elite adapted colonial residences to reflect their traditional lifestyles. These homes, originally designed with foreign ideals of space and function, were transformed into environments that blended colonial and local influences. Modifications such as outdoor kitchens and large compounds for communal activities illustrate how the Baganda incorporated their cultural practices into these foreign structures. These adaptations offer valuable insights for architects and designers, showing how spaces influenced by colonial ideals can be reshaped to reflect the cultural and social values of their occupants. The experience of the Baganda elite offers a broader understanding of place-making in Buganda, where traditional lifestyles continue to shape how spaces are lived in and experienced.
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About the author
Juliet Ange is a Bachelors of Environmental Design student at Uganda Martyrs University, Nkozi.
This is beautifully written!