Okidi – Fire has burnt Cuma river
Ocira Bosco: “During an outbreak of measles, three children from the same home became sick. According to Acholi believe, illnesses such as measles are less destructive when there is harmony and peace at home, because then medicine are more successful. In this particular house there was a lot of quarrelling and domestic violence. In the end all three children died. The sad father cried that if he could find the river where ‘the measles’ live, he would go and burn them all.”
The Ugandan Okidi group consists of Ocira Bosco on lead vocals, two ‘orak’ (half calabash) players and a women ululating (making a long, wavering, high-pitched vocal sound). During this performance the orak is being struck with spokes from a bicycle. When Ocira is not singing, he plays ‘bila’ (small horn).