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| An elder making a contribution |
The
head of the Empaako safeguarding committee Msgr. Peter Jumaraki Araali has
officially launched the 20 percent self help initiative to preserve the Empaako
intangibale cultural heritage. Msgr. Kumaraki launched the initiative during
the official inauguration of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action)
Board of Directors at Garden’s Restaurant – Fort Portal on Saturday, 21st
April 2018.
“The
20 percent self help initiative has started with your presence at this
function, we need to strengthen the local support towards the safeguarding of
our Empaako Intangible cultural heritage.” Said Msgr. Kumaraki.
Msgr.
Kumaraki who is also the new Engabu Za Tooro Board Chairperson while speaking
at the function indicated that the first goal is to strengthen the languages of
the Empaako communities, “we need to first strengthen our language because it’s
our first identity through learning to write and speak it well.” Said Msgr.
Kumaraki.
The
function which was presided over by Prof. Edward Rugumayo of the Tooro Elder’s
Forum attracted over 500 people from the Empaako communities of Batooro,
Banyoro, Basongora, Banyaruguru, Batagwenda, Batuku, Banyabindi and Ba Nya
Mboga from Western Uganda and Eastern DR Congo respectively.
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| The new EZT Board of Directors |
Other
respected community elders who attended the event are Rev. Richard Baguma
Adyeri, Mr. Richard Rwabuhinga Abbooki (District Chairperson - Kabarole), the
current and previous Kogere’s Ms. Rehema Kobusinge Adyeri and Ms. Alice
Basemera Adyeri, Mr. John Byabagambi Ateenyi from Kitagwenda and Mrs. Resty
Balinda Adyeri who is a previous Board Member of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth
Platform for Action).
“I
am happy that the new team of Engabu Za Tooro Board of Directors is a solid
team because it’s made up highly respectable people in our communities.” Said
Prof. Rugumayo while speaking at the function.
The
Board of Directors of Engabu Za Tooro are Prof. Oswald Ndoleriire Ateenyi who
is the patron, Msgr. Peter Kumaraki who is the Board Chairman and Mr. Stephen
Rwagweri Atwoki who is the Executive Director.
Other
Board members are Dr. Richard Irumba Amooti (PhD), Mr. George Mwebembezi
Atwoki, Mrs. MaryTibamwenda Atwoki, Mr. Isaaya Kalya Atwoki, Ms. Barbara
Kabanyoro Ateenyi, Mrs. Winifred Mabiiho Atwoki, Mrs. Vanice Kagaba Amooti.
During
the function, over Uganda Shillings 1,000,000 was collected by the people who
attended the event.
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| EZT Cultural troupe performing at the event |
While
speaking at the function, the Patron of Engabu Za Tooro Prof. Oswald Ndoleriire
indicated that Tooro is still strong evidenced by the inscription of the
Empaako heritage by UNESCO, co-funding the safeguarding of Empaako by UNESCO,
recorgnition of Mountains of the Moon University as a public university and
inclusion of Runyoro – Rutooro in the curriculum of Uganda’s education system.
The
Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro, Mr. Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki while
speaking at the function emphasized that no one can develop without his or her
own personal contribution to achieve his or her dream hence the need to embrace
and appreciate the co-funding of this project by 20 percent since it’s about safeguarding
our own intangible cultural heritage of Empaako.
During
this event, guests who will attend will be entertained by cultural music
perfomers and comedians like Kigambo Moses Araali, Master Kalenzi, Kabagambe
Salongo, Andrew Rubongoya, Kijegere, Kahwa Kansengerwa and EZT cultural troupe
among others.
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| The current and old Kogere who attended the event |
The United Nations Education,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) adopted a decision to co-fund a
two year project for the safeguarding of Empaako naming system during the 12th
session of the UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the safeguarding of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage which was held in December, 2017 at the
International Convention Centre located in Jeju Island in the Republic of South
Korea.
Empaako is naming system whereby in
addition to a family and given name, a child is given a special name called
Empaako selected from a fixed and closed list of 12 Empaako names shared by the
entire society and used as a declaration of respect, endearment or affection.
This practice has been shared and
transmitted from generation to generation in communities located in Western
Uganda, Eastern DR Congo and Northern Tanzania.
However, the Empaako naming practice
is facing threats of extinction mostly due to decline of its mother language
(Runyoro - Rutooro), modernization and attack from modern religious extremist
denominations.
