Kasubi Tomb

Dome is a primordial shape found universally across the world whether its igloo in Inuit culture, yurt in Mongolia, domes of Nubia, Panthenon in Rome, Kabaka’s tomb of Bantu speaking people in East Africa. They are built with variety of materials- earth, ice, stones, felt, grass or concrete and glass in modern times. The circular shape has signified, depending on its scale- humility or equality of all the dwellers or power and splendor of the ruler who built it. It is used as dwelling, a place of worship, power or a burial ground.

Recently, a beautiful circular structure, UNESCO heritage site, Kasubi tomb tragically burned down in Kampala, Uganda. It was built by Bantu speaking people whose civilization date back to 13th century AD. Muzibu-Azaala-Mpanga is a very impressive dome supported by huge wooden poles that supports beautiful 52 rings made of spare grass on which lies majestically covered thatch that elegantly flows all the way to the ground like a bridal goan. Rebuilt in 1882 by Kabaka Mutesa, its external diameter is 31 meters and height of 7.5 meters making it one of the biggest thatched structure in the world. Please click on following pictures for more information.