On the Nakayima Tree Incident

The Nakayima Tree (Pterygota mildbraedii) is one of Uganda’s most well known cultural artefacts. A recent tragedy at the Nakayima Shrine, where the tree stands, highlights some of the perils of poorly informed eco-spirituality. In this episode, we explore the tree’s history and discuss the implications of the incident.References* Tragedy strikes Nakayima Tree Shrine in Mubende, leaving four dead and three injured* Art and Gender: Imag [in] ing the New Woman in Contemporary Ugandan Art * The Cultural secret behind Uganda’s Nakayima tree* Reconfiguring the Omweso board game: Performing narratives of Buganda material culture * Unmasking Ideology in Imperial and Colonial Archaeology: Vocabulary, Symbols, and Legacy (← Read this for commentary on Chwezi history)* Uncovering the True Story of the Ancient Bachwezi People of Uganda* Ecospirituality is tremendously beneficial but may hinder environmental efforts, say researchers* Nakayima tree shrine reopens to devotees amid safety concernsMeanwhile…T minus 1 days till “The Watkins Book of African Folklore” or the “Mythological Africans Book”, is out!More Stuff: Book Talks!RSVP here! Mythological Africans is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Mythological Africans at mythologicalafricans.substack.com/subscribe