Contemporary Ganda Catholic visual art: an analysis of its transitions and manifestations

Abstract

This study focused on the transitions and manifestations of contemporary Ganda Catholic visual art in Buganda from 1879 to the present, focusing on the visual art works of the churches in Buganda. Africanisation in the Churches of Kampala Ecclesiastical Province found in Buganda has been underrepresented in theory as well as in the practice of Africanisation. Some clergy, laities and scholars are puzzled about the Africanisation happening in this art, as evidenced by the contrasting results regarding the presumed extent to which Ganda Catholic art has been culturally conscious, ranging from a large extent to a moderate and limited extent. The variations in these findings could possibly be due to a number of factors, such as the framework of inculturation that the Catholic Church has applied from 1962 onwards to successfully integrate the local African culture into church worship, has had challenges in the visual arts and the dearth of a pictorial art tradition in Buganda. Using a multiple case study research approach, the study analyzed a large corpus of visual artworks from Kampala Ecclesiastical Province, focusing on the transitions of this art and the changing manifestations of this art and it was discovered that Africanisation in terms of the visual arts in some churches is evident, mainly covering the theme of the Uganda martyrs. This study concluded that while Africanisation in the churches of Buganda specifically in the visual arts, has indeed happened, it has not been uniform, despite its implementation in some areas. This was attributed to the history of the Church, especially in communities where the veneration of the Uganda martyrs was deeply emphasized and followed. When the Catholic minister has interest in and is conscious of the Vatican II teaching on Africanisation then Africanisation will occur and vice versa. The Catholic ministers who were broad-minded and not in "fear" of their superiors also greatly contributed to the production of contemporary Ganda Catholic visual art.