Category: Culture
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The origin of the name Kitara
When one looks at the meaning the name “Kitara”, the usual explanation is : the Empire of Light in relation with the word “itara” which in Great Lakes Bantu languages means “lamp, light”. This a complex question because Kitara is an ancient toponym and find the etymology of ancient toponym without…
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The Kitara empire in external sources – The legend of Monemugi
When we study the history of East Africa, several legends and testimonies recall an important kingdom which has existed in the interior of the continent several centuries ago, and goes by the name « Monemugi » or « Kingdom of the Zanj ». Are these testimonies only myths or is there some historical reality…
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Umuganura, an African sacred festival
In East Africa, nowadays, religious communities celebrates differents religious days and feast : Christians celebrate Easter, Muslims celebrate the Ramadan, Jewish communities celebrates Pessah. But few generations ago, in the Great Lakes region, there was a major festival whose significance and importance were comparable to those celebrations : the Umuganura,…
