Our partner Ismail Mwidu, one of the leaders of TAPAC-Uganda (http://www.tapac-uganda.com), a Ugandan performance and educational organization that teaches music, dance and cultural performances as a way to enable youth to break the cycle of poverty, introduces us to the Amagunjju – Uganda's “Royal Dance.”

How did the Amagunjju come to be? Once upon a time the Kabaka King) of the Obutiko ("mushroom") clan of the Kingdom of Buganda died and didn't leave an heir. He did, however, leave many pregnant wives. Medicine men declared that one wife was carrying the Kabaka-to-be. She sat on the throne with the idea that her unborn baby was truly ruling the kingdom. When the boy was actually born, his uncle Gunjju created a dance -- now called the Amagunjju -- meant to keep him constantly happy . . . a crying king brings bad luck!