Conclusion
“Householder” emerged as a posthumous critique of King Ssuuna II’s reign. Created after his death, this song openly expressed public disappointment with his leadership, allowing court musicians to directly voice criticisms that would have been dangerous to express while he was alive. This strategy highlights how musical expression can shift from coded or indirect criticism during a monarch’s lifetime to explicit condemnation once the ruler can no longer exact punishment. The language of “Householder” reflects one of the essential elements of meaning in Kiganda songs, “deep Luganda,” which David Pier defines as a vernacular language that relies on layered meanings to convey its message.
1Pier 2017, 13. As is the case with this song and many others featured in this book, and as mentioned in chapter 3, only those with an in-depth understanding of Kiganda folklore, history, and idiomatic expressions may recognize the richness of lyrical meaning.
2Ibid. This command of language reflects the musicians’ keen sensibilities, as they succeed in pushing their criticism without creating so much of a controversy as to earn them severe punishment.
Indeed, the interpretability of “Householder” allows it to be continuously reinterpreted. Some interpreters compare the song with other derisive funeral dirges and use its lyrics to challenge contemporary leaders who neglect their subjects’ grievances. Other interpreters speak to how the song processes a king’s demise, balancing the change in power relations with difficult emotions associated with death. The song’s relevance to the rise and fall of many leaders explains its longevity throughout several generations of the Baganda and other ethnic groups in Uganda. Through its mix of criticism, praise, regret, and hope, the song challenges the traditionally accepted purposes of funerary music. “Householder” allows for these and other creative applications of its meaning, and the subtlety of its critique lends performers plausible deniability if they are met with government retribution.