BOOK REVIEW
Editorial Reviews
L
ule, Joseph. The Hidden Wisdom of the entry of the proverbs is numerically marked, that is
Baganda: Amagezi g Omuganda Amakusike. from No. 1 to 926. Each proverb is supposed to be
Co-translated with Josephine M. Nambooze. translated from Luganda to English. Each proverb
Arlington Virginia: Humbolt and Hartmann, is designated to have both a literal translation
2006. 291 pp. Review by Aloysius Muzzanganda and what has been described as a metaphorical
Mugerwa Lugira The Hidden Wisdom of the translation. While the former is marked with the
Baganda, is the English rendering of the title of the letter L, the latter is marked with the letter M. After
book under review. the entry of the bulk of the 926 proverbs, the book
is supplied with the genealogy of the clans and the
This title calls for the understanding that for the kings of the Kingdom of Buganda.
people known as Baganda who speak Luganda and
live in Buganda as a kingdom part of a nation-state The genealogy may serve many purposes including
called Uganda, speaking about wisdom. It refl ects the tracing of the periodic positioning of some
proverbs as the containers and carriers of the wise proverbs. Without having something like the
perspectives of the Baganda. For that reason the Gregorian calendar, the Baganda estimated the
book could as well be identifi ed with such a title existence of things and situations according to
as a Book on the Proverbs of the Baganda. For the reigns of the Kings of Buganda. The book
the Baganda, an educated person is someone who contains four pages of endnotes, a glossary of
has so been brought up as to be enabled to live Luganda words in eight pages, a bibliography, and
meaningfully within ones environment. Proverbs acknowledgements each in one page.
are about peoples ways of experiencing reality, and
proper or expected ways of doing things. From the point of view of a substantially formal
format of the valuable contents of this book the
Proverbs are about the wisdoms the elders are trustees of this precious publication will have to
expected to impress on the minds of the young take some heed for a subsequent publication. A
and on those of the less experienced. The late more thorough proofreading is indispensable for
Joseph Lule, the author of the book, was a teacher the amelioration and effectiveness of this book.
both by profession and vocation. In the brief One should not lose sight of the wise and, by now,
autobiographical note titled Preface as well as in the a familiar injunction that Nsibambi edibya mutere.
Introduction of the book he makes it categorically All in all, according to the mind of the author this
clear that the purpose for writing this book was instructive piece of work The Hidden Wisdom of
educational. He emphasizes that the book is the Baganda, should be promoted to the benefi t
intended to help preserve the shrine of the soul of a of the global readership for all people of good will.
people, meaning the language of a people. Not only --Professor Aloysius Lugira.
as an elder and a teacher, but mainly as a sage, he
inculcates on the mind of the reader of this book Order at Amazon
that Ozaayisanga mubiri n otozaayisa lulimi, that is
ISBN-13: 978-0976130604
to say, it is better for a person to be exiled in body,
www.amazon.com
than losing one s mother tongue in the process.
The Hidden Wisdom of the Baganda (Hardcover)
The book includes a collection of 926 proverbs
of the Luganda language of the Baganda.The
by Joseph Lule (Author),
Proverbs are arranged in alphabetical order. Each
Josephine Namboze (Editor)
BOOK REVIEW
South African animals
This is a delightful children’s book, in which a young Swazi girl,
Mbale Mabuza takes the readers around her native South Africa,
introducing them to its varied and colourful fauna.
The beautiful drawings have been skilfully crafted by the very talented
illustrator Alan Baker. Alan could not draw Mbale from life as she
resides in South Africa. He instead used her photograph and did great
justice to her grace and friendliness.
Her Excellency Dr Lindiwe Mabuza, current South Africa High
Commissioner to the UK, wrote the short text on each page, which
describes the typical characteristics of the various animals. Her
carefully chosen words rhyme beautifully, adding a melody to the
text when read aloud to children.
Mbale Mabuza, in real life, is none other than the niece of Her
Excellency Dr Lindiwe Mabuza. She is very proud to feature in the
book. Last October, she fl ew from her native South Africa especially
to help launch the book at a reception that took place at South Africa
House in London.
South African animals can be bought direct from publishers Tamarind,
from Amazon online and all good book shops.
P
48 | THEPROMOTA www.thepromota.co.uk
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