Traditional hunting skills have a long history and are still surrounded by myths. In the dynasty of Njwanga of Kamachumu Bukoba there is “Irungu” the spirit God and ruler who has control on hunters. He rules the open lands and the forests. He, like other Gods such as “Mugasha” the one legged spirit who rules over the waters of the great Lake Victoria, belong to legends that have been handed over from one generation to the next by people of this land.

People of Njwanga’s soil and their hunting dogs hunted for many reasons including recreation, food and for clothing. Before hunters set off for a hunt, they performed traditional rituals such as announcing themselves to the elders of the village and conducting performances with their well trained hunting dogs and hunting tools. The rituals varied according to the type of animal hunted or the season the hunt is taking places. The hunting dog has been an important companion that aid hunters. During the ritual the dogs demonstrate their acute senses of smell and hearing and how they help finding, chasing identifying and retrieving the hunted animal in an extraordinary way. Culturally the hunting dog has been respected highly for this. The hunting ritual is all very spectacular and elaborate. The rituals would be repeated on returning form a successful hunt even if it was just a hare that was killed or if it was a large antelope. Hunters are often individual skilled gallant young men of the tribe or clans that have held the practice over years immemorial. In fact hunting had cultural and psychological importance. Kings too were often depicted as hunters and wore skins of highly valuable game.

Respect to “Irungu” was indeed functional in maintaining law and order out there in the bush. This involved where, when and how the hunts were conducted. Overhunting, unnecessary disturbance of non target animals, a selection and preservation of choice plants were all mandatory and sacred practice. Taboos are often related to hunting. The clan of Njwaga had the monkey as totem. There were stories, poems and songs and sometimes pictures that showered praise and respect to the mighty mythical powers of “Irungu”. He could haunt you if you ignored his powers. Over time this has become only imaginary yet containing aspects not to be ignored. “Irungu” is still part of the culture of the society of Njwanga by which it’s identity can be characterized.

Irungu is considered to be a Muchwezi a member of a mysterious ruling clan of extraordinary strength and skill. They are known to have arrived in this land and made things not ever known before. They went where they wanted over the land without hindrance to places where nobody had ever been before. They had great skill and extra ordinary ability in hunting and were simply miraculous beings. They had elaborate regalia, drums, copper spears, and reed palaces and masks and head crowns. Bachwezi are said to have vanished as mysteriously as they came some six centuries ago. For a little insight of how Bachwezi were perceived, when the European explorer Stanley reached the Kingdom of Ankole, in 1887 he and his companions were mistaken for Abachwezi. This was also on the basis of their fair complexion.

This in its entirety is an impressive and dramatic culture with strong cultural myths. Incidentally, Irungu rules a wealth of plant and animal life. Hunters were gatherers as well. They gather plants and mushrooms such as (empefu, ekinyantuku, enyamukundi (Luhaya names of large mushrooms)) and they told the tribe where “Ensenene” the green grasshopper delicacy could be found. In our present era, photographic tourists, hunting tourists, bird watchers, hikers and all those of adventure safari through Kagera’s rangeland and outdoor activity may be enjoying what has been preserved through myths about “Irungu”. Indeed it is a journey through time that ends into a world of mystery. Welcome to the land of Ma Njwanga to soak in the mythical experiences.