Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts (MTSIFA) Collections

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https://makir.mak.ac.ug/handle/10570/178

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 70
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    Lugbara traditional marriage : a visual interpretation of selected ceremonies and symbols among the Aringa
    (Makerere University, 2026) Gerile, Ismail
    This study examined Lugbara traditional marriage ceremonies and symbols among the Aringa subgroup in Yumbe district, northwestern Uganda, with particular emphasis on their cultural meanings and visual interpretation through painting. The study was motivated by the transformation and diminishing knowledge of selected traditional marriage ceremonies and symbols such as booking partners at young ages, payment of 100 arrows as part of bride wealth, family mediated traditional courtship, and transfer of ceremonial gifts. The study utilized a qualitative research approach incorporating ethnographic inquiry, visual artistic inquiry, and studio-based experimentation to investigate, interpret and visually represent the selected Aringa marriage traditions. Data was collected through participant observation, semi structured interviews, focus group discussions and library review study. Purposive sampling technique was used to engage elders, clan leaders, knowledgeable community members and married adults and youths of the Aringa community. The data was analyzed thematically, while studio practice was used to interpret selected marriage ceremonies, associated symbols, and their cultural meanings into painterly forms. The study was guided by Emile Durkheim’s Functionalist Theory, which provided a framework for understanding how marriage ceremonies and symbols contribute to social cohesion, cultural identity, and continuity. The findings established that Aringa traditional marriage comprises interconnected ceremonies, including courtship, family introduction, bride wealth negotiations and bride wealth transfer, Aje (marriage celebration and), and transfer of gifts. The study identified several symbols including bride wealth, mats and stools, communal eating, songs and dance, and the role of elders, family and community. These objects and performative elements carry meanings related to family relationships, respect, responsibility, unity, and social recognition. The visual interpretation further demonstrated that painting can communicate these cultural meanings through contemporary painterly forms, thereby contributes to the documentation and preservation Aringa cultural heritage. Keywords: Aringa, Lugbara, Traditional marriage, Ceremonies, Symbols, Visual interpretation, Painting, Cultural heritage.
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    Mixed media printmaking as a tool in raising awareness about the causes of Mental health challenges in Kampala District
    (Makerere University, 2026) Kajebe, Jacob Joshua
    Mental health challenges in Kampala District, Uganda, are shaped by intertwined social, economic, academic, and cultural pressures. Despite increasing recognition of mental health concerns, stigma and silence continue to limit public understanding and open dialogue about their underlying causes. While existing awareness initiatives have primarily relied on conventional communication approaches, limited attention has been given to the potential of visual art as a culturally relevant means of engaging communities. This study therefore examined the role of mixed media printmaking in raising awareness about the causes of mental health challenges in Kampala District, exploring its potential to translate complex social and emotional experiences into accessible visual narratives that encourage reflection and dialogue. Guided by the Pragmatic Theory of Art and the Constructivist paradigm, the study adopted a qualitative Arts-Based Research (ABR) approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, participatory workshops, observation, literature review, and studio practice. The findings informed the development of a series of mixed media print artworks that visually communicated the lived experiences of participants. Thematic and visual analyses revealed five major contributors to mental health challenges: academic pressure, time pressure and societal expectations, economic instability, public judgment, and concealed emotional struggles. The study found that mixed media printmaking functioned as both a reflective and communicative platform, enabling participants' experiences to be transformed into symbolic visual narratives while encouraging audiences to engage with complex mental health issues. Through the integration of layering, texture, collage, stitching, and printmaking techniques, the artworks mirrored the complexity of lived experiences and created opportunities for empathy, dialogue, and critical reflection. Audience evaluation demonstrated that viewers were able to interpret the intended messages, relate them to their own experiences, and engage in meaningful conversations about the causes of mental health challenges. The study concludes that mixed media printmaking is an effective and culturally relevant visual communication tool for raising awareness about the causes of mental health challenges in Kampala District. By transforming lived experiences into compelling visual narratives, the study expands the role of printmaking beyond aesthetic practice into socially responsive communication and community engagement. It demonstrates the potential of mixed media printmaking to foster public reflection, challenge stigma, and support arts-based mental health awareness initiatives in Uganda. The study recommends integrating mixed media printmaking into schools, community organisations, galleries, and public awareness programmes as a complementary approach to mental health communication. Keywords: Mixed media printmaking, Mental health challenges, Visual communication, Arts-Based Research, Public awareness, Community engagement, Kampala District, Uganda.
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    The trans[form]ing blacksmiths ingenuity from the 19th century pre–colonial Buganda to present Uganda
    (Makerere University, 2026) Nsereko, Joseph Raymond
    Blacksmithing in Buganda had historically been a cornerstone of cultural identity, economic vitality, and artistic expression, yet its transformation through colonial disruptions and modern influences had remained underexplored. The craft’s resilience amidst socio-cultural, political, and economic shifts had offered a lens to examine indigenous ingenuity and its potential for sustainable development in Uganda. The study aimed to trace the historical evolution of blacksmithing in Buganda from the pre colonial era to the present, identify socio-cultural, political, economic, and geographic factors fostering its resilience and transformation, and analyze its artistic material culture to inform strategies for cultural preservation and industrial innovation. Employing an ethnographic approach within a constructivist framework, the research had utilized participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, visual documentation, and archival analyses. Data had been collected primarily in Kyaddondo and Butambala counties, focusing on Kasimba clan artisans, with triangulation ensuring robustness of findings. Findings had revealed that pre-colonial blacksmiths had held revered status, crafting royal regalia and tools under monarchical patronage, embedding their work in Buganda’s spiritual and economic systems. Colonial policies had marginalized the craft by prioritizing imported goods, yet artisans had adapted by producing tools for cash-crop economies. Post-independence, political stability and cultural revival had spurred innovation, with blacksmiths using scrap metal to create hybrid products like decorative gates for urban and tourist markets. Resilience had stemmed from clan-based knowledge transmission, ritual practices, and geographic access to trade hubs, though challenges like resource scarcity had persisted. The study had concluded that blacksmithing’s ingenuity had endured through adaptive strategies and cultural pride, offering a model for preserving indigenous crafts. It had recommended establishing cultural centers to document techniques, skills programs to enhance market competitiveness, and policy advocacy to support artisans, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 9 for inclusive industrialization. These efforts could ensure blacksmithing’s legacy as a dynamic expression of Buganda’s identity.
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    Text[il]ing voices: an arts-based feminist inquiry into narratives of agency, resistance, and stigma among Ugandan women affected by sickle cell
    (Makerere University, 2026) Ndagire, Esther
    In this study I explored how textile art functions as a counter-discursive space for the articulating the narratives of Ugandan women who challenge systemic barriers manifested through sickle cell-related stigma. Drawing on feminist disability theory and post structuralist thought, I foreground the lived experiences of women affected by sickle cell, who often navigate socio cultural blame, reproductive surveillance, and social exclusion. These dynamics, I argued, can be exacerbated by Uganda‘s proposed mandatory premarital sickle cell screening policy, which risks reinforcing biomedical narratives and gendered stigma that disproportionately hold women responsible for genetic or hereditary conditions. Through narrative inquiry, I examined the covert and overt forms of resistance enacted by these women. Their narratives challenged stereotypes and myths surrounding courtship and marriage, sexuality, reproduction, and motherhood, reframing sickle cell stigma as a source of agency, resilience and empowerment. Using text[il]ing as a arts-based research approach, I translated the agentic narratives into textile artworks. The resulting artworks do not reflect victimhood, but instead embody the women‘s resistance and reimagine their identities beyond dominant cultural and biomedical framings. In doing so, this research expands the potential of textile art as a feminist research praxis, offering inclusive and interdisciplinary pathways across visual art, gender, disability and public health discourses.
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    Art and ethnobotany: the visual interpretation of herbs used in Bagisu Imbalu rituals
    (Makerere University, 2025) Kirabo, Karen
    The study explored the intersection of art and ethnobotany by examining the visual interpretation of herbs used in Bagisu circumcision rituals (Imbalu) in Uganda. The study investigates how traditional herbal practices and their symbolic meanings are embedded within the cultural fabric of the Bagisu community, focusing on the functional role of these plants in the ritual process. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates ethnographic fieldwork, visual analysis, and artistic practice to document and interpret the cultural significance and visual representations of the herbs. Through interviews with traditional herbalists, cultural practitioners and community elders, the study identified key herbs used in the Imbalu rituals, their roles in spiritual and physical healing, and their connection to Bagisu identity and cosmology. The research also incorporated creative practice as a methodology, producing a series of paintings that visually narrate the symbolic and material aspects of the herbs, and emphasising their importance in sustaining cultural heritage amidst globalisation and modernisation pressures. This interdisciplinary study contributes to the fields of ethnobotany, art, and cultural studies by advancing knowledge of the integration of indigenous knowledge systems and visual arts in cultural preservation. It highlights the potential of art as a medium for documenting, interpreting, and revitalising endangered cultural practices while advocating for the conservation of both intangible heritage and biodiversity in the Bagisu region.