Abstract:
The main objective of this study was to
evaluate the importance of ethnic material culture
particularly basket making and wood carving in household
socio-economic enterprises in Kanoni and Engari-sya
sub-counties in Kiruhura district, S.W. Uganda. The study
reviewed eshekuru and orugari to illustrate the importance
of ethnic material culture in household socio-economic
enterprises. The study was based on ethnographic data
collected from twelve participants using snowball approach.
The study findings revealed that household perception of
ethnic material culture was based on Western influenced
ideologies such as those of education, religion, and mode of
governance on one hand and on the other hand, it was based
on household cultural pride. Household’s perception of
appropriate ethnic material culture was one that did not
conflict with the Western religious doctrines, education
system or prescribed government policies. Moreover,
households wanted to keep and use ethnic material culture
that made them unique and proud of their traditional cultural
values. The study proposed and recommended a policy shift
that promotes the use of ethnic material culture in household
enterprises because it was found out that most households
use it to augment government supported programs.
