“For me, Music is more than just performance. Every time I step on stage, I see it as a chance to access quality education and secure a better future. Along the way, I have connected deeply with my culture – something I might never have experienced without joining the Bantu Cultural Troupe.” – Moureen Agnes Nabukenya, sponsored student at Makerere University’s Performing Arts and Film Department (2025).

The Bantu Cultural Troupe is the social enterprise arm of the Rockies Organization, offering students in our Education Sponsorship Program a platform to develop their talents, showcase the artistic skills attained through cultural performance. Members receive intensive training in cultural and contemporary music, dance, and live band performance, enabling them to perform at weddings, corporate events, and community functions.

Income from these performances directly supports the Education Sponsorship Program, turning every show into an opportunity to support education, healthcare and welfare for disadvantaged Ugandan children and youth.     

Beyond performance, students gain hands-on experience in leadership, teamwork, and entrepreneurship. They take part in managing troupe activities, learning how to balance artistry with responsibility and professionalism.

The troupe presents a vibrant repertoire of dances from Uganda and the wider region, including Adungu (West Nile), Ekizino (Kigezi), Kitaguriro (Ankole), Olunyege-Ntogoro (Tooro), and dances from Central, Eastern, and Northern Uganda, as well as Rwanda, Burundi, and Southern Africa. Members also learn to play both traditional and Western instruments such as drums, xylophones, the entongooli, pan pipes, saxophone, jazz drums, and piano—ensuring culturally-rich performances.

Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, Promoting the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

The Bantu Cultural Troupe contributes to the implementation of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. By preserving and promoting Uganda’s traditional music, dance, and oral heritage, the troupe keeps these cultural expressions alive while equipping young people with the skills, pride, and confidence to thrive.

Through its work, the troupe revitalizes cultural practices in need of urgent safeguarding such as the Mujaguzo drum ensemble and empowers youth with cultural skills that promote pride, creativity, and self-reliance. Its integration of traditional and contemporary expression not only protects Uganda’s diverse cultural identities but also contributes meaningfully to the country’s creative economy.

By supporting both education and the arts, the Bantu Cultural Troupe advances sustainable development through cultural heritage—proving that preserving culture and empowering youth can go hand in hand.

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