“We need to start with strengthening our own clan and family institutions to revitalize our culture,” Says Rwagweri

Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki

It’s common sense that you can’t give what you don’t have, the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action), Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki has today appealed to the people in the Empaako communities to start strengthening their clan and family institutions in order to revitalize their culture.

“To safeguard our heritage, we need to revitalize our cultural institutions right from families, lineages and clans.” Says Rwagweri Atwoki, who is also the head of the Bafumambogo Clan whose totem is a buffalo.

As an inspiration to other Empaako communities, clans, families and individuals, Rwagweri will officiate a function aimed at finding out the lineage of Lui Nyakaana of the Bafumambogo clan, celebrating Empaako inscription and performing of Empaako naming rituals among others. The function will take place on 12^th May, 2018 at Mukunyu Located in Kyenjojo district which is part of Tooro Kingdom.

Rwagweri’s action follows recommendations by clan leaders from Empaako communities in Western Uganda who attended a meeting facilitated by Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) held in Fort Portal on Saturday April 7^th, 2018.

The Traditional ceremonial chair of Bafumambogo clan

During the clan meeting, clan leaders recommended for the strengthening of our language, strengthening our institutions at both family and clan levels and also keep perfoming traditional rituals so that threats to the extinction of our culture like Empaako intangible tradition can be minimized.

Clan leaders also recommended the supporting of our traditional wear, strengthening our cultural morals especially among the youth and supporting our traditional meals.

In addition to Stephen Rwagweri, other prominent Bafumambogo clan members are Henry Kajura who is a former Governor Bank of Uganda and former cabinet minister in Uganda, Bishop Reuben Kisembo who is the current Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese - Fort Portal, Ategeka James Mugarama Akiiki who is the current district chairperson of Bunyangabu and Mr. Businge Prosper who is the former district Councilor Kabarole among others.

In addition to heading a cultural NGO and being a clan leader, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki is a social worker, book writer, broadcaster and currently implementing a UNESCO co-funded project aimed at safeguarding the extinction of the Empaako Intangible Cultural Heritage among the Banyoro, Batooro, Banyabindi, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru, Batuku and Ba Nyamboga located in Western Uganda and Eastern DR Congo respectively.

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted a decision to co-fund a two year project for the safeguarding of Empaako naming system during the 12^thsession 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.

A buffullo - Traditional totem of Bafumambogo clan

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.