This project gathers folklores relevant for addressing the development problems of the Ugandan peoples, and seeks to contribute to a sense of cultural nationhood that transcends local conflicts and differences.

The underlying premise is the attention to balance between processes of cultural globalization and local origins and traditions in the negotiation of conflict and rupture between self and community, and community and nation.

The capacity of traditional folklores to delight and to instruct members of the community has never been lost in spite of the onslaught of contemporary cultures on them. Uganda, a country characterized by ethnic diversity and conflicts, is also rich in cultural values that can be sourced as mechanisms for its development. The purpose of this research is to access the significant folklores of Ugandan peoples that represent the patrimony of the communities and use them to shape their values. Contemporary Ugandan communities have distanced themselves from most of the traditional values that are articulated through folklores; and yet most of these principles are relevant to our times.

So far the project has produced three films documenting the changes and challenges of balancing traditional practices and knowledge with modernization.

The project is funded in full by The Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Education (NUFU).