This glossary contains Luganda words and a few key non-Luganda terms as they are used in this volume.

aba prep. pl. of; v. is

abaamasiga n. pl. primary clan lineage heads (title)

Abateregga, Bateregga n. pl. royal lineage of reigning kings

Abeekika n. pl. clan members

abeemituba n. pl. secondary clan lineage heads (title)

abeeredde v. “she/he is fond of”

abempya n. pl. quaternary clan lineage heads (title)

Abengeye n. pl. primary members of the Ngeye Clan

abennyiriri n. pl. tertiary clan lineage heads (title)

abennyumba n. pl. quinary clan lineage heads (title)

Abenvuma n. pl. primary members of the Nvuma Clan

abina v. “she/he is dancing while jumping and raising legs very high”

aboobusolya n. pl. “ones constituting roofs”; clan heads (title)

Aboobutiko n. pl. primary members of the Butiko Clan

aga prep. pl. of

agaligenda v. pl. “which will go”

ajja v. “she/he is coming”

aka adj. of

akademe n. academy

akali v. “that which is”

akugoba v. “one who chases you” or “one who is chasing you”

Akugoba n. name of a drum-making workshop

alifumbirwa v. “she/he will be cooked for” (she/he will get married)

alikatunda v. “she/he will sell it”

Amaganda adj. of or relating to the Baganda

Amaggunju n. “dances associated with the ggunju”; cover term for Kawuugulu dances

amala v. “one who finishes”; “one who completes”; “one who averts”

aneetikka v. “she/he will carry

Ankole, Nkole, Nkore n. interlacustrine Bantu kingdom in southwestern Uganda

asula v. “she/he who dwells”

atudde v. “you who is seated”

atutte v. “she/he who has taken”

avaayo v. “whoever comes from there”

azinga v. “she/he rolls up”

azinze v. “she/he has rolled up”

b’ prep. pl. of

ba prep. pl. of

baakisimba v. “they planted it”

Baakisimba n. cover term for a music and dance genre

baalyanga v. pl. “they used to dine”

baana, abaana n. pl. children

Baanabaakintu n. pl. “children of Kintu” (descendants of Kintu)

babinyi, ababinyi n. pl. “jumpers” or “raisers”

Babinyi, Ababinyi n. pl. cover term for Kawuugulu dancers

badongo, abadongo n. pl. group of musicians

Badongo, Abadongo n. pl. court or palace ensemble comprising lyre, fiddle, flute, rattle, and drum players

Baganda, Abaganda n. pl. natives of Buganda