Life_In_Uganda

This page is not about the Abayudaya per se. Rather, it is about life in their country, the values of their host culture.
In this case, the values are not antithetical to the values of Judaism, and it is fair to say that many Ugandan values are evinced by the way the Abayudaya live their lives.

Living in the Developing World, even briefly, gives one

Look at the classroom. There are no chairs; the children sit on the unfinished dirt floor. One chalkboard, one teacher’s chair - that’s the extent of the furnishings. There are holes in the walls; the window is just a large opening. There are a few “fortunate” students who have school uniforms and footwear: flip-flops. The rest wear hand-me-downs and go barefoot.

Now look at the smiles on their faces. their undisguised joy at a stranger’s visit. Material privations are a fact of life, but they do not have to diminish one’s happiness. Meaning and joy come from family, friends, community - and religion - not from an abundance of material possessions.

Consider these words, written by Nick Berg as part of his application to volunteer with the American Jewish World Service. Recounting an earlier volunteer experience in Uganda, Berg writes: “The men and women I work with are some of the happiest, funniest, most generous people I’ve ever known. Incomprehensible to most westerners, these so-called “dispossessed poor” do not necessarily lust for better houses. This is not to say they would not build a new home, expand electrical coverage or pave their roads if they had a chance. But many are content in their current physical situation - a life carved largely from the land around them. In an informal survey I conducted, every one of my students said he or she wanted to “learn...” or “teach...” or “train...” or “build...” - not to “have...” or “buy...” or “be like....”

Personal finance guru Suze Orman wrote: “I would love to live in a world where authentic happiness was achievable solely from the richness of relationships.” That is the kind of world in which these children live.

Note: Regarding Nick Berg (1978-2004): It would be a shame if Nick were remembered solely as the first victim of a barbaric beheading in Iraq. Rather, he should be remembered as the intelligent, articulate, compassionate and adventuresome individual that he was. The world is a lot poorer because of his death. May his memory endure as a blessing.

Getting the Word Out

The children in the picture below attend the same primary (elementary) school as the children in the picture above. Insufficent classsroom space means that classes are often held outside. And if you are wondering why these older students are in an elemtary school, the answer is simple. Although public
elementary education is free, there are still fees that need to be paid and items that need to be purchased. If a family cannot afford these expenses, then their children cannot attend school. They return only when there are sufficient funds. (Photo by Howard Gorin)

They were singing, and the sounds they produced were exceptional. The song was in their native tongue, and the music was in the traditional African call-and-response style. I asked that headmistress if this was a music class. No, she replied, they are practicing for a competition. They will be competing with other schools in the region, all of whom are going to be singing about HIV and AIDS.

Think about it. These children have no access to mass media - no television, no radio, no movies, no magazines. How are they supposed to learn about this dread disease that is ravaging so much of Africa? They spread the word themselves, through song. There songs tell about the disease and what is causes and about how it is spread and how one can prevent becoming infected. It seems to be working. Uganda is a relative success story when it comes to HIV and AIDS, having one of the lowest rates of new infections throughout all of sub-Saharan Africa.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been accorded recognition - throughout Africa and around the world - for his personal leadership and strong commitment to the crusade against the HIV/AIDS. His leadership and the creative methods for getting the word out are two factors that make Uganda a country worth emulating in the battle against HIV/AIDS.

End note: In January 2006, Professor Greg Barz of Vanderbilt University published a book called Singing for Life: HIV/AIDS and Music in Uganda. In the book, he documents the role that music plays in the fight against this disease. Read more here.

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