Bigwala is a genre of ceremonial music and dance of the Busoga Kingdom in Uganda centered around gourd trumpets.

[1][2] Originally performed during royal celebrations such as coronations and funerals, and more recently during social occasions, but less frequently: "At present...there are only four remaining older master bearers with skills in Bigwala making, playing and dancing, and their recent transmission attempts have been frustrated by financial obstacles.

[3] David Pier argues that Alibatya is helping preserve the genre despite its obscurity, unlike most items on the list, which are cherished by the local community.

[4][5] Bigwala is music and dance from the Basoga who are a Bantu speaking community from the southeastern region of Uganda.

Bigwala is a Lusoga (language of the Basoga) term that refers to the set of five monotone gourd trumpets of different sizes.

Some scholars state that they originated from Egypt and were adopted by the Basoga through migration of other communities to modern day Uganda.

However, one theory that is believed to be true by most is, Kintu, the first Muganda (Baganda man) brought the Bigwala to Buganda from the slopes of Mt.Elgon in Eastern Uganda.

Many believe that the spreading of the Bigwala was not coincidental but a result of some immigrants moving to Busoga region from Buganda in the 16th century led by Kintu himself.

These gourds come from plants similar to pumpkins or watermelons but they develop a long neck that smoothly curves at the end.

The gourds turn from a yellow-green colour to brown and covered with soot, a sign that they are ready for the next step.

The artisan uses glue made from waste of Bisimizi; a type of black ants that bore holes in dry wood or sap extracted from the Lukone tree to stick many Ebidome together until the desired length is achieved for different pitches.

The biggest and deepest trumpet is Enhana which plays the lead role and comes from the Lusoga word Okwana meaning to yell.

The Basoga women tend to respond to the music before the men and they add extra embellishments and excitement as they ululate and dance vigorously as they raise their hands in the air.

A few children are learning how to play the Bigwala by making a mock version of the original instrument using pawpaw leave stalks.