Engabu Za Tooro procures state of the art equipment for documentation of culture

EZT board chairperson speaking at the event

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) has imported state of the art equipment to be used by the local communities in Western Uganda to document their culture especially cultural elements which are threatened with extinction like the Empaako and Koogere intangible oral traditions so that they can be safeguarded for generations.

The state of the art equipment which were unveiled at the Uganda National Cultural Center, Kampala, Uganda on Saturday, 28^th July 2018 included among others the latest 4k Sony Camera PXW series, latest sound facilities and the apple editing suite with latest film industry applications.

The unveiling of the state of the art equipments was witnessed by hundreds of people who included the Patron of Engabu Za Tooro Prof. Oswald Ndoleriire, Engabu Za Tooro Board Chairperson Mr. George Mwebembezi, the senior cultural officer of Uganda Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development Hajat Nalubega Hajara, the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro Mr. Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki, journalists from Uganda media institutions, staff of Engabu Za Tooro Documentation Unit, cultural enthusiasts and experts among others.

Ntege Patrick demonstrating how to use the equipment

While speaking at the equipment unveiling event, the senior consultant of Global technology international Mr. Ntege Patrick Mugerwa whose international firm spearheaded the procuring of the equipment indicated that all the procured equipment are of high quality capable of performing even in noisy locations, are designed for high performance productions like movies, documentaries and fitted with the latest sound facilities.

“We are ready to proceed with comprehensive documentation of ceremonies and practices of Empaako communities from Bunyoro through Tooro, Busongora to Bunyaruguru, from Kitagwenda through Butuku to Mboga Zaire,” Said the Executive Director, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) Mr. Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki while speaking at the equipment unveiling event. 

Rwagweri further appealed to clans in the Empaako communities not to lose steam in enhancing their energies of human resilience through their own community initiated “Tutemu Engaro Fund” losely translated as ‘Lets join hands’ to raise the 20 percent community contributions needed for the safeguarding of their very own cultural heritage threatened with extinction like Empaako and Koogere oral tradition.

The Uganda National Cultural Centre where the equipment were unveiled

Engabu Za Tooro head adds, “if you lose energy in safeguarding your very own culture through community contributions, atleast revoke your ancestral spirits of solidarity so that at least ten (10) community members can be supported to pursue university degrees in Runyoro-Rutooro language as self-help contribution to the overall 5 years programme that will lead to declaring Empaako heritage as threat free and fully integrated in contemporary development paradigm.”

The Empaako intangible cultural heritage which include Okaali, Araali, Ateenyi, Abwoli, Acaali, Bbala, Akiiki, Atwoki, Adyeri, Abbooki, Abwoli and Amooti which have been shared by the entire society and transmitted from generation to generation signify respect, love, affection, human dignity and affirmation of the shared principle of humanity.

The fixed and closed list of 12 magic names, singularly and collectively called Empaako are threatened by loss of associated knowledge, abandoning naming rituals, declining growth of its contextual language-Runyooro/Rutooro and attack from contemporary religious extremists. 

Based on the above threats, an indigenous cultural NGO Engabu Za Tooro researched about the practice and mobilized concerned communities which in 2013 successfully petitioned UNESCO to inscribe the heritage on the world list.

Currently UNESCO has contributed 80% to co-fund a two years project aimed at comprehensive documentation of ceremonies and practices of Empaako communities and revitalization of observance of naming rituals. The remaining 20 percent will be contributed by the local Empaako communities.

Contribute towards the safeguarding our culture by buying an Empaako jumper

EZT volunteer putting on Empaako jumper

The Executive Director Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action), Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki has appealed to members of Empaako communities, well-wishers and tourists to contribute towards the safeguarding of our culture by buying Empaako jumpers at Engabu Za Tooro Offices in Fort Portal.

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action) has produced dozens of Empaako jumpers available for sale at Engabu Za Tooro head offices on Plot 18 Kaija Road, Kabundaire, P. O Box 886, Fort Portal - Uganda or they can call on +256 483 422 187 or +256 772 469 751 or email: info@engabuzatooro.or.ug and engabuzatooro@gmail.com

The jumpers are available in all colors like red, green, maroon, blue, white, grey and sizes. Each jumper has a single Empaako name preferred by the client and each jumper will cost UGX 60,000 which is part of the ‘Tutemu Engaro’ Campaign aimed at mobilizing local contributions towards the safeguarding of our heritage.

Empaako jumper with a customised Empaako name

The 12 Empaako’s are Okaali which is reserved for a king, Acaali, Bbala, Apuuli and Araali which are only reserved for men and finally, Abbooki, Adyeri, Abwoli, Akiiki, Amooti, Ateenyi and Atwoki for both men and women.

Empaako jumper available in different colors

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action) is currently implementing a two (2) year UNESCO co-funded project aimed at safeguarding the Empaako naming system among the communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Banyabindi, Basongora, Batuku, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru, Bagungu, Ba Nya Mboga and Baziba located in Western Uganda, Eastern DR Congo and Northern Tanzania respectively which has been shared and transmitted from generation to generation in Empaako communities.

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 (twelve) Empaako names shared by the entire society and used as a declaration of respect, endearment or affection.

However, the Empaako naming practice is facing threats of extinction mostly due to decline of its mother language (Runyoro – Rutooro), modernization, abandoning our traditional rituals, weakening cultural institutions, and attack from modern religious extremist denominations.

“we continuously seek to learn and search for creative solutions to the problems of our time”, says Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action) Executive Director Stephen Rwagweri in a statement for the organizations 2017 annual report.

Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki (standing in green suit) during one of the clan leader’s training on culture.

The Executive Director Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action) Mr. Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki has appealed to the Empaako communities to continuously seek to learn and search for creative solutions to the problems of our time in his statement for organizations 2017 annual report.

EZT 2017 annual report

During 2017, 2017 Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action) launched implementation of our five year strategic plan which is designed to take the organization to another level in implementation of it mission that is continuously adapted to the changing circumstances by conducting the following strategic activities as noted below;

Engabu Za Tooro consolidated the initiation of programmes areas which are built on developing cultural heritage as a critical resource in the development and using the cultural-based approach in tackling social problems.

The organization also built the capacity of staff to develop cultural professionals for the communities and the country who will advance cultural programming and participate in UNESCO’s International Mechanisms on Culture.

Engabu Za Tooro also consolidated, developed and initiated broad national and international networks and finally, the organization consolidated a diversified resource mobilization strategy that hinges on harnessing local resources and attracting international contributions.

Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali

Chairperson, Board of Directors and also the head of the Empaako safeguarding committee Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali appealed to institutions and individuals both in Uganda and beyond to enable Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action) join hands by contributing moral and material resources to enable the continuation in executing efforts in safeguarding their culture.

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action) is currently implementing a two (2) year UNESCO co-funded project aimed at safeguarding the Empaako naming system among the communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Banyabindi, Basongora, Batuku, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru, Bagungu, Ba Nya Mboga and Baziba located in Western Uganda, Eastern DR Congo and Northern Tanzania respectively which has been shared and transmitted from generation to generation in Empaako communities.

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 (twelve) Empaako names shared by the entire society and used as a declaration of respect, endearment or affection.

The 12 Empaako names

The 12 Empaako’s are Okaali which is reserved for a king, Acaali, Bbala, Apuuli and Araali which are only reserved for men and finally, Abbooki, Adyeri, Abwoli, Akiiki, Amooti, Ateenyi and Atwoki for both men and women.

However, the Empaako naming practice is facing threats of extinction mostly due to decline of its mother language (Runyoro - Rutooro), modernization, abandoning our traditional rituals, weakening cultural institutions, and attack from modern religious extremist denominations. 

To download the full 2017 annual report, click on this link Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth platform for Action) 2017 annual report

Engabu Za Tooro receives the 1st installment from UNESCO to safeguard and revitalize Empaako naming system

Empaako monument in Fort Portal

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) received the 1^st installment from United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) worth USD 116,060 on 23/02/2018 to safeguard and revitalize Empaako naming system in a co-funded project which will be implemented in a period of 21 months.

The local contributions to the Empaako UNESCO co-funded project is 20 percent totaling to USD 58,940 while UNECSO will provide 80 percent totaling to USD 232,120. The total project cost is USD 291,060.

The project titled, “community-self documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda” aims to revitalize the practice of the Empaako naming system and its associated ceremonies in the five communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of Western Uganda.

The UNESCO co-funded support, will enhance the capacities of the communities concerned to transmit knowledge and skills to successive generations, and mobilize practitioners to revive the practice.

Clan leaders training on Empaako project

So far, some of the key outputs of the Empaako safeguarding project are the establishment of the state of the art documentation unit with high tech equipment at the secretariat, publication of the community based ICH documentation handbook of international standards and publication of rituals and ceremonies among Empaako communities.

In addition, other key outputs are making a video production on traditional rituals and ceremonies among Empaako communities adapted to different formats and audiences and establishment of the dissemination network involving electronic media, online media, publications agency system and spontaneous community meetings on the safeguarding and revitalization of Empaako in the 5 (five) Empaako communities.

Project management committee training

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) has also launched the Twekwatiremu campaign to mobilise Empaako communities contribute the needed 20 percent contribution to enable the smooth implementation of the project.