Forest Products, Livelihoods and Conservation

Patrick Omeja, Joseph Obua and Anthony B. Cunningham 175

Drum making has also provided gainful employment to local people, hence

contributing to social stability. In particular it has helped to reduce rural exodus

and associated social problems, which in turn has reinforced family cohesion

and stability.

In addition, drum making has helped strengthen the cultural traditions for

both individuals and society. Drum makers in Mpigi supply drums to the National

Theatre in Kampala. Primary and postprimary schools participating in national

cultural festivals buy the drums. As a result drum making offers an opportunity

for cultural self-examination and awareness and preserves local culture. The

cultural aspect of the drums inherently helps the government in its policy to

make culture accessible as ‘living and evolving tradition’. Through drums the

promotion of cultural activities and collection and distribution of cultural

information adds to positive cultural identity, enhances national identity,

national building and international co-operation.

The resource base

Drum making is based on extraction and processing of stems of softwood species

since timber harvesters have depleted the desired hardwoods in the 1980s,

when there was a breakdown in law and order. Utilisation of softwoods implies

that there are few competing uses for the resource. Although many species can

be carved into drums, wood qualities of a relatively small range of species have

favoured only a few species over others (Table 1). In the past, special types of

drums for the kabaka were made exclusively from muvule (Milicia excelsa)

trees (Lush 1935), while other drums were, and still are, made from other suitable

timbers depending on the size of drum and the quality of the wood.

Scientific name Local or Family

Luganda name

Alstonia boonei Musoga Apocynaceae

Antiaris toxicaria Kirundu Moraceae

Bosquiea phoberos Mugwii Moraceae

(Trilepsium madagascariensis)

Canarium schweinfurthii* Muwawu Burseraceae

Cordia africana* Mukebu Boraginaceae

Cordia millenii* Mukebu Boraginaceae

Erythrina excelsa Bajangabo Leguminosae

Ficus exasperata Luwawu Moraceae

Ficus natalensis Mutuba Moraceae

Ficus mucuso Kabalira Moraceae

Ficus sur Kabalira Moraceae

Ficus sycomorous Mukunyu Moraceae

Funtumia africana Nkago Apocynaceae

Maesopsis eminii* Musizi Rhamnaceae

Milicia excelsa* Muvule Moraceae

Morus mesozygia* Mukoge Moraceae

Musanga cecropioides Namaguro Moraceae

Polycias fulva Setala Araliaceae

Table 1. Tree species used in the drum making industry

* Reserved species occurring in some parts as pure stands.

Source: Samula 2001.

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