Textile decoration ideas depicting Ente Ntimba totem of Abaliisa and Abakurungo clans for cultural conservation of Bunyoro kingdom in north western Uganda.

Abstract

The Ente Entimba totem conveyed narratives of the Bunyoro Kingdom people from the era of the Bachwezi, who were believed to be the ancestors of the Bunyoro Kingdom. Consequently, the study focused on generating textile decoration ideas that depicted the Ente Entimba totem of the Abaliisa and Abakurungo clans to preserve the culture of the Bunyoro Kingdom in North Western Uganda. This concept provided an opportunity to construct and unite the Abaliisa and Abakurungo people from the Bunyoro Kingdom through textile decorations that represented their totem, to which both clans were affiliated. The study reviewed the traditional clothing practices of the Banyoro and used them as a foundation for generating textile ideas to create a suitable conceptual framework. The scope of this production compelled us to consider the use of textile decorations derived from the Ente Entimba totem, which enhanced the cultural preservation and unity of the Abaliisa and Abakurungo of the Bunyoro Kingdom. This study had three objectives: (i) to identify the different breeds of the Ente Entimba totem among the Abaliisa and Abakurungo clans of the Bunyoro Kingdom, (ii) to examine the natural patterns found on the head and skin of the Ente Entimba, and (iii) to develop design motifs inspired by the Ente and Entimba totem of the Abaliisa and Abakurungo for textile decoration and cultural conservation in the Bunyoro Kingdom. The study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing observations and interviews with individuals knowledgeable about Bunyoro culture, specifically the Ente Entimba totem of the Abaliisa and Abakurungo, for the purpose of conservation. This approach was rooted in the traditional clothing practices of the North Western regions of Uganda, selected as a means to preserve the culture of the Bunyoro Kingdom through textile decoration. The study suggests that further research is needed to explore the historical significance of totems, their influence on cultural preservation, the economic implications of incorporating totem motifs in textile design, and the contemporary role of totems in society