Conclusion
“The Battle of Nsinsi” depicts a historical conflict between the Kingdoms of Bunyoro and Buganda and the violence and death that resulted from it. The composition functions as a historical record preserved in multiple versions, with each rendition offering different dimensions of the same inter-kingdom conflict. Through Majwala’s extended rendering and Bisaso’s condensed performance, the song demonstrates how a single historical narrative can be transmitted with varying emphasis across generations.
On further examination we come to understand how this story behind “The Battle of Nsinsi” evokes themes in twenty-first-century Ugandan politics. The interpretations presented in this chapter underscore many of the topics that research collaborators engage with in their contributions, such as violence, death, lament, deterioration, tragedy, suffering, and loss, among others. The contextual information that Majwala, Bisaso, and a handful of interpreters provide, as well as the interpreters’ analyses, connect the song to the obstacles and conflicts of the current era. One interpreter frames the song in terms of the model behavior that the warriors of Nsinsi demonstrate, suggesting that one should expect such conduct from contemporary politicians. Another interpreter frames it through the losses that frequently arise from unnecessary conflict, highlighting the notion that current leaders should avoid conflict whenever possible. These topics relate explicitly to contemporary political landscapes where leaders are responsible for carrying out decisions about whether to engage in violent conflict. Through interpreters’ various analyses, we come to see how the value of “The Battle of Nsinsi” evolves into multiple layers of meaning.