“We need to put emphasis on culture to develop or we happily disappear,” Prof. Ndoleriire Ateenyi

Rwagweri Stephen (standing) facilitating the training

The Makerere University Professor of languages Oswald Ndoleriire Ateenyi has appealed to Empaako communities to put emphasis on culture to develop, “countries that have developed like China, India and France have put a lot of emphasis on promoting their very own culture,” Said Prof. Ndoleriire.

Ndoleriire who is also also a patron of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) which is an indigenous Uganda community organization using a cultural approach to development also appealed to Empaako communities of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batagwenda, Batuku, Basongora and Banyabindi to put into action the knowledge and skills gained from the 10 day residential training organized by Engabu Za Tooro to safeguard their own intangible cultural heritage like Empaako and Koogere intangible oral traditions.

“What you have learnt is very important because many Uganda communities don’t put a lot of emphasis on promoting their very own culture apart from the Buganda community. Uganda government also doesn’t care in safeguarding the traditions of their communities unlike in developed countries like China, France and India in-terms of funding to cultural activities and culture is just a very small department in the Uganda ministry of Labour, Gender and Social Development,” Said Prof. Ndoleriire

Prof. Oswald Ndoleriire (standing) speaking at the training

Prof. Ndoleriire adds, “developed countries like China, India and France have independent government ministries responsible for safeguarding their very own culture unlike Uganda.”

While speaking on Friday 24^th August, 2018 at the Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) organized 10 days residential training on documentation of intangible cultural heritage at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal – Uganda,  Prof. Ndoleriire indicated that if Uganda communities continue to abandon their culture, they might ‘happily’ disappear citing the examples of Batooro and Banyoro communities.

Some of the prticipants at the training

“Statistics indicate that communities which were once strong like Banyoro and Batooro are slowly and happily disappearing because they have abandoned their traditions like indigenous languages and performing their traditional rituals,”   Said Prof. Ndoleriire Ateenyi.

To safeguard intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding like Empaako and Koogere intangible oral traditions, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) is already involved in training book writers, creative writers, professional videographers, professional photographers, visual artists, sculptors, song writers, composers, poets, ritual leaders, herbalists, presenters of cultural programs on electronic media, vernacular teachers and translators among others from the Empaako communities to document their intangible cultural heritage.

A profile photo of the training

The documentation and capacity building trainings has benefited communities among theBatooro, Banyoro, Banyabindi, Basongora, Batuku, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru and Ba Nya Mboga in Western Uganda and Eastern DR Congo respectively for a UNESCO co-funded project aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.

“Lack of interest from young people in learning the skill of drum making threatening the extinction of the traditional activity,” says a traditional drum maker

A traditional drum maker in Kitangirra village located in Kicwamba Sub County, Kabarole district Mr. Silvano Bwegendaho Araali has indicated that many young people are not embracing the practice because they think it is a rough job which threatens the extinction of the traditional activity.

Group photo of the training with facilitators

“I learnt the practice of drum making through non formal education from my father and I have tried to teach many of my children this traditional skill but many seem not interested because they see it as a rough job which threatens the extinction of the practice,” Said Bwegendaho

While speaking to participants of the training of trainers workshop organized by Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) who were conducting a field tour on Thursday 23^rd August, 2018 also indicated increasing de-forestration and overpopulation has also almost depleted the indigenous trees which are used for making the drums.

Bwegendaho who sees the practice of drum making as a noble profession because it has assisted him to improve his livelihood, “I sell traditional drums in markets like Mugusu Market and craft shops around Fort Portal town and get money to look after myself and my family,” says Bwegendaho.

Bwegendaho illustrating the traditional practice of making drums

According to Bwegendaho, drums are used during traditional ceremonies like marriage, religious services and community mobilization among others and there are many types of traditional drums with each type having a specialized person with the required skills and knowledge to use it acquired over a given period of time either through formal or non-formal education.

A complete traditional drum

Bwegendaho adds “There are special drums for different kinds of traditional activities for instance during Empango annual festival in Tooro and Bunyoro kingdoms there are special drums made specifically for the king from a tree in the middle of a forest where women have never reached.”  

To make a drum, a traditional drum maker needs tools like an axe, hammer, knife, panga, wood especially from indigenous trees like ‘omujuga ntara’, hides from cattle, python snakes and enswanswa (reptile animal almost similar to a crocodile).

“In the medieval era in the great Bunyoro Kitara kingdom, drum making was a preserved activity for men. However, today women are also involved in the activity of making traditional drums except women are not allowed to make traditional drums for the kings of Tooro and Bunyoro kingdoms,” Says Mr. Silvano Bwegendaho Araali

Currently, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) is training book writers, creative writers, professional videographers, professional photographers, visual artists, sculptors, song writers, composers, poets, ritual leaders, herbalists, presenters of cultural programs on electronic media, vernacular teachers and translators among others from the Empaako communities to document their intangible cultural heritage.

The 10 days residential documentation capacity building workshop which started on 19^th August, 2018 at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal targets to benefit communities among the Batooro, Banyoro, Banyabindi, Basongora, Batuku and Batagwenda to enhance a UNESCO co-funded project aimed at community self-documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.   

“If we don’t document our information on culture, it will disappear,” Documentation expert emphasizes

An expert in documentation Gerald Businge Ateenyi has indicated that people have a lot of information on culture but if they fail to document it, it will disappear, “we have so much information in our heads but if we don’t document it, it will disappear anytime”

Gerald Businge (standing) facilitating

Businge who was today Wednesday 22^nd August, 2018 facilitating a training on a topic titled, “Traditional and modern forms of documentation” at Fort Breeze Hotel in Fort Portal described documentation as the capturing, recording and packaging information, knowledge and images on a subject for easy and effective storage and sharing.

The documentation expert who is also a senior lecturer at the Department of Journalism at Makerere university and consultant at Ultimate media consult appealed to people from the Empaako communities use both traditional and modern forms of documentation to save their intangible cultural heritage from extinction.

Some of the traditional forms of documentation are using artifacts, weaving, painting, curving, composition and using human memory among others. The modern forms of documentation are photography, writing books, audio recording, artistic composition and graphics among others.

The Executive Director of Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda Ms. Emily Drani while facilitating the same Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) organized training emphasized that when documenting, its important that people start with origin of the tradition, history of the tradition, type of the tradition, areas where the tradition is practiced and associated myths and beliefs of the tradition.

Ms. Emily Drani adds, “documentation is a process and not a product because knowledge changes, techniques can be different, skills are different, processes change and the trainings are also changing.”

Field tour of participants nd Tooro Botanical Gardens

Tooro Kingdom minister Mr. Mwesige Zebidayo Abbooki who also works on TV West as a comedian indicated that for documentation to be more effective and sustainable, people need to start with documenting their own lineage at the family level, “there is need to focus at the family level before going to a wider community if we want to effectively and sustainably safeguard our culture especially the intangible oral traditions like Empaako from extinction,” Said Zebidayo Mwesige Abbooki.

The conservator incharge of archives at the Department of Museums, monuments at the ministry of Tourism, wildlife and antiquities who was facilitating a topic titled, ”Modern and traditional archiving methods” also appealed to people from the Empaako communities to keep their information on culture so that it can be used by the future generation.

Participants in group work discussions

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) has already trained book writers, creative writers, professional videographers, professional photographers, visual artists, sculptors, song writers, composers, poets, ritual leaders, herbalists, presenters of cultural programs on electronic media, vernacular teachers and translators among others from the Empaako communities to document their intangible cultural heritage.

The documentation capacity building trainings targets to benefit communitiesamong theBatooro, Banyoro, Banyabindi, Basongora, Batuku, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru and Ba Nya Mboga in Western Uganda and Eastern DR Congo respectively for a UNESCO co-funded project aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.

Culture expert appeals to people to take responsibility in safeguarding their own culture

The Executive Director of Cross Cultural Foundation Uganda Ms. Emily Drani has appealed to people from Empaako communities to take responsibility in safeguarding their very own culture so that it can sustainably be safeguarded for generations.

Emily Drani (standing) facilitating the training

“We should be responsible for safeguarding our own heritage. It should never be a responsibility of the government of Uganda or foreign agencies like UNESCO,” Says Drani while facilitating a training on Tuesday 21^st August, 2018.

While facilitating a topic titled, “Documentation, research and inventory” during Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) training titled, “community-self documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices association with Empaako naming system in Uganda” Ms. Emily Drani who appreciated the government of Uganda’s decision to ratify the 2003 ICH Convention also appealed to the people of Uganda and the government to enhance the safeguarding of Intangible cultural heritage through coming up with bye-laws, guidelines, national policy and regulations.

During the 10 day residential training which started on 19^th August, 2018 at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal Ms. Emily Drani adds, “to enhance ICH safeguarding, there is also need to set up more government departments incharge of safeguarding ICH, inscription and inventorying of more ICH elements, ensure increased protection of cultural, social or sacred spaces like the Nakayima tree and Kasubi tombs in Buganda”

Some of the participants

Other measures needed to enhance the safeguarding of ICH elements are embracing formal and non-formal education on ICH, preservation of cultural materials for instance instruments, objects, materials, constumes and equipments, research and documentation on ICH, establish and exhibit repositories of ICH for instance storage, exhibition of knowledge, cultural centers and museums.

Finally, Ms. Emily Drani appealed to community members and the government to put more emphasis on awareness raising and promotion of ICH through symposiums, conferences, trainings and using both conventional and social media.

The Commissioner for Culture and Family affairs at the Uganda ministry of Labour, gender and social development Ms. Juliana Naume Akoryo while training participants on a topic titled, “Undestanding the domains of Intangible Cultural Heritage” appealed to participants to embrace oral traditions because they safeguard a language and provide a chance for young people to interact with elders.

“Oral traditions safeguard a language and it’s important that we maintain their everyday role in society because they provide opportunities for knowledge to be passed from person to person and provide chance for elders to interact with young people,” Said Akoryo.

Daniel Kaweesi, the programe officer at The Uganda National Commission for UNESCO while facilitating a topic titled, “National strategy on inventorying Intangible Cultural Heritage and experience on inventorying” indicated that there is need to embrace culture to benefit from the thriving traditional knowledge industry for instance people in Uganda are increasingly using herbal soap, herbal toothpaste and traditional medicine.

A participant from Bunyoro (infront) making a point

The training which has attracted 27 participants  who include community coordinators, cultural officers, community development officers, elders, performing artists, media practitioners, photographers, videographers and publishers from Tooro, Bunyoro, Busongora and Butuku will generate and share knowledge and information that strengthens the draft practical guide to community self-documentation of ICH, produce a certified team of community-based trainers who will facilitate capacity building workshops under UGA-01210 project and the subsequent ICH initiatives in five communities and the country at large.

To ensure that people to take responsibility in safeguarding their own culture Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) has launched the Tutemu Engaro campaign to mobilise Empaako communities contribute in the safeguarding of Empaako naming system among Batooro, Banyoro, Banyabindi, Basongora, Batuku, Batagwenda, Banyaruguru and Ba Nya Mboga in Western Uganda and Eastern DR Congo respectively.

  

“More emphasis should be put on identifying Empaako naming rituals,” Empaako community members

Empaako community members have today 20^th August, 2018 resolved to put more emphasis on going back to their communities and identifying the Empaako naming rituals especially at family levels so that it can be properly documented for it to be safeguarded from extinction.

Stephen Rwagweri (standing) speaking at the workshop

“However, the performance of the Empaako naming rituals at family level must be spontaneous and naturally performed and not acted,” advised Stephen Rwagweri  Atwoki the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action).

Empaako Training of trainers workshop participants also appealed to all stakeholders involved in safeguarding the extinction of Empaako intangible cultural heritage to amplify community sensitization and training on Empaako safeguarding and revitalization.

Participants also resolved to increase the use of social media like whatsapp, facebook and twitter which are popular with young people in creating awareness on Empaako safeguarding so that young people can be effectively reached by the messages.

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. 

Some of the workshop participants

The workshop which started at 10am to 5pm also involved the official launch of the ICH Documentation unit at Engabu Za Tooro main offices which was officially launched by the Chairperson of the Empaako safeguarding committee Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali and the Senior Culture Officer at the Ministry of Labour, Gender and Social development Hajat Nalubega Hajarah who appealed to community members to use the documentation unit equipments in safeguarding their intangible cultural heritage threatened with extinction through documentation like Empaako naming rituals.

The 10 day residential training starting on 19^th to 28^th August, 2018 at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal. The training dubbed, “community-self documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices association with Empaako naming system in Uganda” targets training of trainer’s to develop a team of community based trainers in documentation of intangible cultural heritage who will in turn train practitioners of ICH to document their own practices.

 The training dubbed, “community-self documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices association with Empaako naming system in Uganda” targets training of trainer’s to develop a team of community based trainers in documentation of intangible cultural heritage who will in turn train practitioners of ICH to document their own practices.

Empaako Jumper 

The training which has attracted 27 participants  who include community coordinators, cultural officers, community development officers, elders, performing artists, media practitioners, photographers, videographers and publishers will generate and share knowledge and information that strengthens the draft practical guide to community self-documentation of ICH, produce a certified team of community-based trainers who will facilitate capacity building workshops under UGA-01210 project and the subsequent ICH initiatives in five communities and the country at large.

In addition, the training will produce a certified team of technical people who will form the crew that will be adopted to operate the biopics high tech equipment in documentation exercise under the current project and beyond and finally a published workshop report will be produced to act as a future reference material in building competences in documentation of ICH.

Prof. Edward Rugumayo to officially launch Engabu Za Tooro state of the art equipment on 20th August, 2018.

ICH Documentation Unit Logo

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) recently 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 will be officially launched by Prof. Edward Rugumayo on 20^th August, 2018 at the ICH Documentation Unit located at Engabu Za Tooro main offices in Fort Portal.

After the launch, Engabu Za Tooro will proceed to officially start the 10 day residential training starting on 19^th to 28^th August, 2018 at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal. The training dubbed, “community-self documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices association with Empaako naming system in Uganda” targets training of trainer’s to develop a team of community based trainers in documentation of intangible cultural heritage who will in turn train practitioners of ICH to document their own practices.

As part of this current project UGA – 01210 “community-self documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices association with Empaako naming system in Uganda” Engabu Za Tooro procured high tech audio-visual recording and production equipment. Engabu Za Tooro is recruiting and training people to form the crew for technical operation of these equipments.

An expert demonstrating how to use one of the equipments

These have been consolidated into an ICH Documentation Unit at Engabu Za Tooro offices and secretariat of the project which will be launched as part of the opening ceremony of this TOT workshop and the same unit will be used for practical work and demonstrations during the workshop.

The state of the art equipment which were first 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 procured equipments 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.

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.

Engabu Za Tooro to hold a 10 days training on community-self documentation and revitalization of Empaako

Engabu Za Tooro will hold a 10 day residential training starting on 19^th to 28^th August, 2018 at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal. The training dubbed, “community-self documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices association with Empaako naming system in Uganda” targets training of trainer’s to develop a team of community based trainers in documentation of intangible cultural heritage who will in turn train practitioners of ICH to document their own practices.

Workshop banner

Some of the key topics which will be covered during the training are understanding the 2003 UNESCO convention for safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, understanding the intangible cultural heritage domains, understanding the differences and relationship between inventorying, documentation and research, Uganda’s national strategy on inventorying, community-self documentation of ICH, creating interview guides and data collection formats for ICH documentation.

Other topics are understanding the different formats of audio-visual productions, developing scripts for different audio-visual production formats, understanding the different information management systems, understanding the different online and offline information and knowledge dissemination formats, understanding the Empaako online platform, traditional and modern archiving methods, technical aspects of photography and videography, technical aspects of videography, technical aspects of photo and video editing.

Fort Breeze Hotel where the training will tke place

The training which will attract 27 participants  like the community coordinators, cultural officers, community development officers, elders, performing artists, media practitioners, photographers, videographers and publishers will generate and share knowledge and information that strengthens the draft practical guide to community self-documentation of ICH, produce a certified team of community-based trainers who will facilitate capacity building workshops under UGA-01210 project and the subsequent ICH initiatives in five communities and the country at large.

In addition, the training will produce a certified team of technical people who will form the crew that will be adopted to operate the biopics high tech equipment in documentation exercise under the current project and beyond and finally a published workshop report will be produced to act as a future reference material in building competences in documentation of ICH.

The skilled and experienced facilitators who will be incharge of the training are Ms. Juliana Naume Akoryo a Commissioner in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Mr. Daniel Kaweesi who is the programme Officer incharge of Culture at the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO and Ms. Emily Drani who is the Executive Director Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda

Others are Mr. Gerald Businge who is a Senior Journalism Lecture at Makerere University, Ms. Agnes Kabaikya the Communications Manager World Vision – Uganda and Mr. Wilson Kaija Senior Journalism Lecturer at Makerere University and Mr. Richard Asiimwe Conservator in charge of Archives at the Uganda National Museum.

Engabu Za Tooro, Technical Facilitating Team will be Mr. Julius Isingoma the head, ICH Documentation Unit at Engabu Za Tooro, Mr. Stephen Rwagweri Engabu Za Tooro Executive Director and Mr. Stephen Alinaitwe, the Programme Coordinator at Engabu Za Tooro.

The 12 Empako names

Currently, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform) is implementing a UNESCO co-funded project aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda among the communities of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of Western Ugandaso as to enhance their capacities to transmit knowledge and skills to successive generations and to mobilise practitioners to revive the Empaako naming practice.

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.

This practice has been shared and transmitted from generation to generation in Empaako 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.

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. 

Bafumambogo clan of Simon Biryatega Ateenyi and Lui Nyakaana publish a book with focus on strengthening culture, promoting education and peace building

The traditional chair of the Bafumambogo clan head

Bafumambogo clan members of the Simon Biryatega Ateenyi and Lui Nyakaana lineage of Ngote and Myeri in present day Kyenjojo district have published a book which appealed to family members to focus on strengthening Tooro culture especially among young people, promote education, build peace and strengthen unity among family members.

The 24 page book detailing the lineage of Simon Biryatega and Lui Nyakaana who include the family of Kandole Phillip, family of Silas Gafabusa Ateenyi, family of Wenkya Nyansiyo, family of Yowana Bikere, family of Domitira Tibahwerwayo, family of Yosefu Kasangaki, family of Emmanuel Kasangaki, family of Damiano Mubu, family of Rosa Kakuliremu and family of Yozefu Kasangaki.

Stephen Rwagweri in a group photo with the family of Silas Ateenyi

In the publication, clan members appealed to all Bafumambogo clan members of Simon Biryatega Ateenyi and Lui Nyakaana lineage to trace for more members of the lineage and continue organizing an annual family meeting for enhanced team work and development.

According to Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki who is the Bafumambogo clan head in Tooro Kingdom and also a direct descendant of Simon Biryatega Ateenyi and Lui Nyakaana indicated that annual family meetings will enhance networking, strengthen unity, resolve family conflicts and strengthen team work for development.

During the first annual family meeting of Simon Biryatega Ateenyi and Lui Nyakaana lineage held on Saturday, 12^thMay 2018 at Mukunyu in Kyenjojo district – Tooro Kingdom an education fund was launched.  The education fund called Lui Nyakaana Education fund is aimed at assisting the underprivileged but willing and determined to study members of the Bafumambogo clan.

Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese speaking at the event

The education fund is named after the late Lui Nyakaana because he supported valued and encouraged education not only for his children but also for other community members, relatives and clan members. In addition, Lui Nyakaana respected the preservation of our African culture especially the Runyoro – Rutooro language, traditional dressing, traditional meals and respected the traditional institutions especially clans and Tooro Kingdom.

Lui Nyakaana who passed on in 1984 was buried at Mukunyu, Butiiti Sub County, Kyenjojo District – Tooro Kingdom.

The annual clan meeting was presided over by Mr. Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki who is also the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action)

The annual clan meeting was attended by hundreds of people including the Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese – Fort Portal Rt. Rev. Reuben Bizarwenda Kisembo Amooti who is also a mufumambogo, the head of the Bafumambogo clan in Kabarole district Mr. Francis Basaliza Adyeri and Mpumwirwe Alinaitwe Akiiki who is the head of the Bafumambogo clan in Mwenge County.

Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Troupe perfoming

During the one day clan meeting which started at 10am and ended at 8pm included activities like prayers led by the catholic church, introductions, a traditional meat roasting event, taking of traditional beers and entertainment with cultural music by Kigambo Moses Araali and Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Troupe.

Download the full book