Buganga!

Some days I wake up with a word in my head, or a phrase. Often this is unconnected with my dreams - it's merely the product of the first collision of the day with my rested mind. This morning, the word is Buganga!

My first internet search of the day therefore led me to Uganda. Latitude (DMS): 0° 1' 60 N, Longitude (DMS): 31° 58' 48 E (Degrees, minutes and seconds) in an attempt to determine the meaning of Buganga!

I've added the exclamation mark because that was how the word arrived. In fact, you should pronounce it not just with some emphasis but also with a positivity bordering on the belligerent to reproduce the desired effect - and extraordinarily, today's spontaneous word is also accompanied by a double hand gesture - palms facing forward, digits splayed, at chest height.

Try saying Buganga! now and making the gesture - you'll find it feels good.

There is also a Buganga in Burundi, Latitude : -4 04' 47'' Longitude : 29 30' 13'' about which I can find even less information. It seems to be on the shore of an enormous lake and on Google Maps it looks very green. But, I have often observed that everywhere on Google Maps (except for bona fide deserts) looks ridiculously green. This is a trick that The Evil One plays, representing the Earth as if it is lush and healthy on our computer screens and televisions, even as every last scrap of life is degraded or removed. Still - back to Buganga! Let's not distract ourselves from this place of mystery. Why is it calling me this morning? Then I thought: what does the gesture mean?

In Italian sign language, the gesture means Free. I also found that the "palms facing forward" gesture is part of the Repulse the Monkey Movement in Tai Chi - a good way to calm the entire nervous system:

1. Place your left foot in front of your body, resting your foot on the toes.

2. Keep your right foot about a foot-and-a-half behind.

3. Bend both knees and turn your torso slightly to the right.

4. Push your left and right hands in front of your body, palms out. Your left hand will be extended further than the right.

5. Circle your right hand down and back past your torso. Bring it up and press it palm forward past your right ear.

6. Step back with your left foot, placing toes first and then the heel. Turn your left hand palm up.

7. Shift your weight back on your left leg and press forward with your right palm. Withdraw your left hand with the palm up. Circle it down and back.

8. Step back with your right foot and circle your left hand up and press it palm forward past your left ear.

9. Withdraw your right hand palm up as your left palm comes forward. Circle your right hand downward and back and shift your weight to your right leg.

10. Step back with your left foot and circle your right hand up and press it palm forward past your right ear.

11. Withdraw your left hand palm up as your right palm comes forward. Circle your left hand downward and back and shift your weight to your left leg.

12. Step back with your right foot as you circle your left hand up and press it palm forward past your left ear.

13. Withdraw your right hand palm up as your left palm comes forward. Circle your right hand down and back and shift your weight to your right leg.

So, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that I must have been called to set up a Tai Chi centre in Uganda and/or Burundi in order to promote calm on the African continent, and from there, we will export to countries in need - Thailand, Hungary and Darfur, to name three contemporary places of unrest. The great cry of Buganga! will echo from wooded hills and mountains, down the long, fertile river valleys, repeated by converts, devotees and enthusiasts everywhere, until it enters the urban centres and gathers unstoppable social momentum.

I'm off there now - I'll let you know how it goes.

Buganga!