Kasubi Hill, in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, is the resting place of four kings of Buganda – a centuries-old monarchy still central to the lives of the Baganda people. Their tombs are built from vegetal materials that demand constant upkeep and leave the structures vulnerable, as became clear in March 2010 when a fire destroyed much of the tomb complex. Directed by the Ethiopian-American filmmaker Sosena Solomon, and featuring the prime minister of the Buganda Kingdom and the architects and artisans involved in the restoration, the film documents both the careful work of reconstruction and the tombs’ indispensable role in Baganda society. In doing so, Solomon’s film captures how these grand structures embody the spirituality and values of the Baganda people.
The film is part of the short documentary series Africa’s Cultural Landmarks, produced by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in collaboration with the World Monuments Fund.