In Baganda society, the palace of a kabaka, or king, became the site of his royal tomb. Impressive structures made of renewable materials with large, thatched, conical roofs, the tomb is where he interacted with his subjects, even after death.
Part of Africa’s Cultural Landmarks, a series produced by The Met in collaboration with World Monuments Fund and directed by Sosena Solomon, this documentary examines the Tombs of the Buganda Kings at Wamala and Kasubi. Enter the royal burial site of Kasubi, and see the structural elements crafted by the work of Buganda clans, each represented within the building. The organic materials require continual conservation and rebuilding by generations dedicated to maintaining these sacred sites. However, urbanization has made sourcing the reeds and grasses essential for construction increasingly challenging.
Hear expert insights and learn how efforts to rebuild the Kasubi Kings Tomb after a devastating fire in 2010 were supported by studying archival documentation and an earlier restoration of its precursor at Wamala.
About Wamala and Kasubi
The Tombs of the Buganda Kings at Wamala and Kasubi house the relics of five generations of departed monarchs. The Wamala King’s Tomb was the palace and eventual burial site for Suuna II (r. 1832-1856), the 34th kabaka, or king of Buganda. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the structure enclosing the kings’ tombs at Kasubi was built as the palace for Suuna’s son, Kabaka Muteesa I (r. 1856-1884), and came to include the burials of him and his three successors. They are the only two such tomb complexes remaining in Uganda. Thus connected to the Buganda Kingdom’s royal forebearers, the shrines have remained important sites for traditional religious practices hosted by the current Kabaka and his representatives. Constructed from a framework of wooden poles and sheathed in a dense layer of thatching, the renewable structures must be continually maintained, and face ongoing existential threats from climate change and fire.
Africa’s Cultural Landmarks is produced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art in collaboration with World Monuments Fund.
