Lulu Jemimah: The Last Pre-Colonial King of Buganda (1885)

This week we meet a misunderstood king who resisted colonial rule. 

History is full of kings and queens with bad reputations. And yet, on closer inspection, we often find these reputations weren’t always entirely justified. That’s the argument that my guest today, Lulu Jemimah, makes for King Mwanga II – the last pre-colonial king of Buganda before British colonial rule.

King Mwanga is known mostly for his part in killing 45 young pages who were Christian converts between 1885 and 1887, later known as the Uganda martyrs. Some scholars have argued that Mwanga was bisexual and that he had the pages killed after they refused his sexual advances in court. 

But what if Mwanga’s reign and reputation were more complicated than the picture this story paints? Mwanga came to the throne aged sixteen and inherited a kingdom which was under threat from European powers engaged in a “Scramble for Africa”.

Our guest is the writer, producer, and media consultant Lulu Jemimah. With over ten years’ experience she has worked across different platforms from print to radio, stage, and screen. She has also been involved in communicating research to broader audiences across topics like health, economics, history and politics.

Show Notes

Scene One: September, 1855. A meeting is held between Mwanga and his chiefs to discuss European influence on the continent.

Scene Two: October, 1885. The execution of Bishop Hannington

Scene Three: 15th November 1885. The execution of king’s close friend and confidante Joseph Mukasa Balikudembe by the Prime minister. 

Momento: The snake that tried to kill King Mutesa.

People/Social

Presenter: Artemis Irvine

Guest: Lulu Jemimah

Production: Maria Nolan

Podcast partner: Unseen Histories

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