Conclusion
Typically performed in ritual contexts that address such topics as kinship, spirituality, and determination, “Let Me Plod with a Stick Close to Kibuuka” presents the perspective of a frustrated husband whose ex-wife has left with his child. As a result, he invokes the Baganda’s war god Kibuuka to persuade his mother-in-law to mediate this couple’s conflict and bring back the child. By presenting the complexities of this divorce, the song demonstrates how intricate relationships can be, as the husband’s marriage is not just between him and his wife but also intersects with his mother-in-law, his son, and the deity Kibuuka. Accordingly, “Let Me Plod with a Stick Close to Kibuuka” operates as a musical narrative exploring the intersection of marriage difficulties and spiritual intervention. It transforms personal marital struggles into a framework for understanding how individuals seek supernatural assistance during relationship crises. This process further illustrates how spiritual resources may be integrated into addressing intimate relationship problems in Buganda. The imagery of “plodding with a stick,” which suggests a difficult journey toward spiritual assistance, emphasizes both the desperation and determination involved in seeking supernatural intervention.
Reimagining “Let Me Plod with a Stick Close to Kibuuka” through a twenty-first-century political framework, interpreters reevaluate the song further. Many focus on how the ex-husband in the song expresses spiritual determination to overcome his disagreement with the ex-wife. As these interpreters demonstrate, his longing for his child represents a grander desire for a strong kinship network and a legacy of offspring that can relate to many political leaders of the world, particularly those who wish to continue their violent conflict. Conversely, the idea that one can determine and control the variability of one’s life applies equally to leaders holding on to their power and those who wish to challenge these power-hungry leaders. Interpreters draw on Kiganda proverbs, national politics, and various conceptions of reciprocity to proliferate imaginative possibilities.