Oldest Umumasaba, Mzee Canon Maswere, Celebrates 108th Birthday
Describing him as a “living encyclopedia of the Bamasaaba”, the cultural institution continues to consult Mzee Maswere on matters of culture, etiquette, and community values.
Mbale: The Bamasaaba Cultural Institution is proudly celebrating the 108th birthday of Mzee Canon Maswere, the oldest living Umumasaba, and a revered custodian of culture, history, and tradition.
According to Steven Masiga, spokesperson for the Bamasaaba Cultural Institution, Mzee Maswere was conceived around October 1916 and born on July 27, 1917. This year marks a remarkable milestone in his life and for the entire Bamasaaba community.
“To validate his authentic age,” Masiga explained, “our cultural records show that Mzee Maswere was circumcised in 1934 at the age of 17 a key cultural rite of passage among the Bamasaaba. He married in the late 1930s, and his firstborn children are now in their early 80s.”
Mzee Maswere is not only a centenarian but a respected educator and author. With a background in teaching, he mentored many, including the first Umukuka (cultural leader) of the Bamasaaba. Over the years, he has authored several books on Bamasaaba culture and Christianity, and remains an avid reader to this day.
Masiga emphasized the importance of celebrating living legends, stating, “Often, newspapers and online platforms report about people only after they pass away. Today, we are proud to shine a light on Mzee Maswere while he is still alive.”
Masiga further noted that Mzee Maswere has no known contemporaries still living in Masaabaland. “By birth, he is a year older than Nelson Mandela, and this makes him a historic figure in both local and global contexts.”
Describing him as a “living encyclopedia of the Bamasaaba”, the cultural institution continues to consult Mzee Maswere on matters of culture, etiquette, and community values.
A preliminary birthday celebration was recently held in anticipation of the big day, as Bamasaaba people, both young and old, continue to draw inspiration from his wisdom, resilience, and unwavering commitment to cultural preservation.
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