Empaako Heritage promoted in an International Conference

IFCCD President putting on Empaako jumper

The President of the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) Her Excellency Madam Mane Nett, from Chile, South America adopts Empaako Atwoki to emphasize the need to safeguard the cultural heritage of communities across the globe.

This was during a brief ceremony to recognize Empaako heritage organized as a side event during the 5^th Congress of International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity taking place at Gouverneur Hotels, Montreal Canada 24^th to 29^th October 2018.

The side event was organized and sponsored by the Ugandan cultural NGO – Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) which was admitted in the congress in observer capacity.

While adopting the Empaako Atwoki, Madam Mane Nett said “Just like any other intangible cultural heritage, while Empaako heritage belongs to particular bearer communities in Uganda, it is of interest to entire humanity. When we lose a heritage, we lose an irreplaceable part of humanity” She invited Engabu Za Tooro along with representatives to ritual leaders from Empaako communities for cultural exchange and observing the rituals that are associated with adopting Empaako.

IFCCD conference in Canada

Shared and transmitted across generations, Empaako is a naming system whereby in addition to sur and given names, a person is given a special name selected from a fixed and closed list of 12 of them which are shared by the entire society and, in the beliefs of the bearers, by the entire humanity.

The 12 Empaako names include Okaali, Bbala, Acaali, Apuuli, Araali, Atwoki, Adyeri, Abwoli, Akiiki, Abbooki, Amooti and Ateenyi. 

These words are literary meaningless in their linguistics context but functionally are a declaration of love, respect and affection, defining a web of human relationship and social interactions. 

Their transmission at birth and adoption is associated with complexity of rituals and ceremonies of which meaning and interpretations form the basis of the value system, living heritage and identify of the bearer communities which are found in western Uganda, Northern, Tanzania and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Group photo of some participants

Empaako heritage was inscribed by UNESCO on the world list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2013 and the communities are currently implementing UNESCO-co-funded project on documentation and revitalization of associated rituals and practices.

You can view all the photos of the Canada conference on flickr, follow the link https://www.flickr.com/photos/158032353@N06/?  

Engabu Za Tooro Executive Director’s statement before departing for the Canada conference on YouTube, follow the link https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KholrdAFfHQ

 

Engabu Za Tooro to facilitate the formation of a Uganda Coalition for Cultural Diversity

Engabu Za Tooro Cultural items on display at an Exhibition in Fort Portal, Uganda

The Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki has indicated that the organization will facilitate the formation of a Uganda Coalition for Cultural Diversity after attending the 5^th Congress of International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity due on 25^th to 28^th October 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Engabu Za Tooro which was officially invited by the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) because of its status as an associate memberof IFCCD and its rich experience in implementing culture related projects for 19 years in Uganda will be represented by Mr. Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki at the conference.

According to Rwagweri Atwoki, “Uganda has got a number of growing national organizations, Associations and Networks in the field of Arts and Culture. They cover areas like publishing, production, performing arts, media and indigenous medicine,” hence the need to have a national coalition on cultural diversity in Uganda.

EZT Cultural Troupe performing

Rwagweri adds, “all these entities in the field of culture and arts exist and act in isolation from one another. There is no known viable national forum or platform for networking and cooperation of all professionals and practitioners in the Art and Culture sector. Equally, there are only a few international networks that have established chapters or sections in the country which limits the capacity of arts and culture practitioners and professionals to influence national policy for the development of the sector”

While speaking today Monday 22^nd October, 2018at Engabu Za Tooro offices in Fort Portal as he prepares to travel to Canada to attend the international conference on cultural diversity, Rwagweri indicated that Uganda has no National Arts Council and has only recently ratified the 2005 UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression which is a sign of a weak culture and arts sector in the country.

Some of the proposed institutions to be members of the Uganda Coalition for Cultural Diversity are Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action), Uganda Musicians Union (UMU), Bayimba Cultural Foundation, Uganda Writers Association (UWA), Uganda Development Theatre Association, Uganda Theatrical Groups and Artists Association (UTGAA), Federation of Performing Artists of Uganda (FEPAU), The Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), Uganda Women Writers Association (FEMRITE), National Association of Folklorists, National Council of Traditional Healers and Herbalists, Uganda Community Museum Operators Association, International theatre Institute – Uganda Chapter, Arterial Network – Uganda Chapter, Department of Performing arts and Film Makerere University, Department of Literature: Makerere University, Institute of Languages – Makerere University, African Music Council.

Stephen Rwagweri attending a recent WIPO meeting in Geneva, Switzerland

Others are Department of Performing Arts; Kyambogo University, Department of Literature: Kyambogo University, Department of African Studies: Mountains of the Moon University, Federation of Performing Artists Association (FEPAU), Uganda Federation of Movie Industry (UFMI), Uganda Journalist Union, Uganda Journalist Association, Society for Advancement of Ugandan Languages (SAUL), National Book Trust of Uganda, African Women Writers Initiative, Uganda Pen Center, African Writers Trust, Uganda Performing Right Society, National Association of WRITERS in Vernacular (NAWIVE), Koogere Foundation, Gulu Theatre Artists, National Association of Folk Arts and Folk Festivals Organisations (NAFAFO).

Currently, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform) is implementing a two year 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 Uganda so as to enhance their capacities to transmit knowledge and skills to successive generations and to mobilise practitioners to revive the Empaako naming ritual.

More, follow the website on http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/engabu-za-tooro-facilitate-formation-uganda-coalition-cultural-diversity/

EZT invited to attend a culture conference in Canada, admitted as a member of the international culture federation

EZT Cultural Troupe performing

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) has officially been invited to attend an international conference from 25th to 28th October 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The conference will also be attended by organizations which are in the field of art and culture from around the world.

The 5th Congress of International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity will be attended by the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki who will use the international network on culture and push for support to establish a Uganda Cultural Diversity Coalition.

EngabuZaTooro will also seek support of the federation to mobilize Ugandan organizations in the field of art and culture, to form a Uganda Coalition which will in turn attract full membership to the global federation.

The international conference on culture organized by the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) is supported by the Government of Canada. Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) was officially admitted as an associate member of the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD).

A Painting of Stephen Rwagweri on a backcloth

As an associate member, Engabu Za Tooro therefore represents Uganda in the Federations Congress that takes place every three years in different cities of the world.

Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki, who is the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro last represented Uganda in the international conference on culture in 2015 with support from the Commonwealth Foundation.

Engabu Za Tooro a 19 years old Ugandan NGO with vast experience in culture programmes is accredited to UNESCO and currently implementing UNESCO co-funded project among Empaako Communities in Western Uganda.

A group photo of cultural practitioners after training by EZT

In addition, Engabu Za Tooro is accredited to provide advisory services to UNECSO (ICH Convention) and also accredited to participate in observer capacity in the sessions of World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore which takes place four times a year at WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Engabu Za Tooro is also an official Uganda representative observer on the International Council of Organisations for Folklore, Folk art and Festivals (CIOFF) and is currently working to establish a Uganda national network for folk groups and festivals for Uganda to qualify for full membership to this international council. Both IFCCD and CIOFF are headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

Shared heritage and shared responsibility to safeguard it; contribute to the fund for revitalization of endangered heritage in the Empaako communities

Tuteemu engaro brochure

Clans from Empaako communities (Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Banyabindi and Batagwenda) have rekindled the ancestral spirit of solidarity to mobilise collective energies and self-help resources to revitalize their endangered heritage including language, rituals and folk expressions which form their living heritage and cultural identity.

Shared and transmitted from generation to generation, Empaako practice represents the value system, entire living heritage and identity of the bearer communities.

Mobilised and technically facilitated by Engabu Za Tooro NGO, Empaako communities in 2012 successfully petitioned UNESCO and it inscribed Empaako culture and Koogere oral expressions of the legendary Kitara region on the world list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. The UNESCO inscription was thus, making an international statement that basing on researched information contained in the nomination dossier, the viability of the heritage is threatened and the bearer communities are determined and prepared to mobilise their own resources to revitalize their heritage and inviting any external complementary support.

Tutemu Engaro Basket

Consequently in 2018, UNESCO offered a co-funding contract for project No. UGA 01210 where communities have to contribute 20 percent. It was signed and guaranteed by the facilitating agency – Engabu Za Tooro and ratified by clan leaders. The overall 5 years safeguarding programme will revitalize rituals, broadly document and publish on rituals, dance and folk expressions, develop language and create cultural professional through training, practice and scholarship scheme. In this effort, Tutemu Engaro self-help cultural fund has been established to pool and consolidate community self-help contributions towards the programme. 

Contributions book

To participate and contribute, contact the office and trusteesthrough the contacts provided below and download the brochure for detailed information.

Engabu Z aTooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action), Plot 18, Kaija Road, Kabundaire P.O Box 886, Fort Portal – Uganda. Office Tel: +256 (0) 483 422 187 Mob: +256 (0) 772 469 751 Emails: info@engabuzatooro.or.ug and engabuzatooro@gmail.com Web: www.engabuzatooro.or.ug

More, follow the link http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/shared-heritage-shared-responsibility-safeguard-contribute-fund-revitalization-endangered-heritage-empaako-communities/  

Empaako naming ritual performed in Kyenjojo, the origin of the Abasiita clan revealed

Preparering a traditional meal

The Empaako naming ritual for a baby girl has been performed at the family of Kasigazi John Atwoki who is the grandfather of the baby girl who is also the head of the family. Kasigazi who is a musiita by clan led the performance of the Empaako naming ritual on Saturday, 29^th September 2018. The ceremony was performed at Kitengura village, Nyankwanzi Sub County in Kyenjojo district – Tooro Kingdom.

The father of the baby girl Busobozi Gideon Amooti who is a son of Kasigazi John Atwokifinally gave the baby girl a name of Kabasiita Abwoli after many proposals from eldersand relatives. Kabasiita was given to the baby because it is a name of the clan of the baby girl and Abwoliempaako was given to the baby girl because it was an Empaako for her deceased grandmother.

Women mingling millet meal

The naming system involved preparing a traditional meal of millet bread and mushroom soup mixed with roasted beef (Oburo na omukubi gwo’omukaro nobutuzi), eating of the traditional meal three times for each member of the family or community, naming the empaako and giving the child gifts.

Women laughing and dancing

The ritual also involved walking and laughing three times around the house for the baby girl while carrying dustbin material accumulated during the delivery of the baby and depositing it in the banana plantation and finally planting a banana stem for the baby girl by the head of the family.

After the performance of the Empaako naming ritual, people started partying which involved playing and dancing traditional music, eating traditional meals and feasting on the local traditional beer (Tonto) and speeches from clan and community leaders.

The head of the family Kasigazi John Atwoki indicated that a calendar from the Empaako the empaako naming ritual will be published and shared among clan members so that more people can be encouraged to perform the Empaako naming ritual.

“We shall use the photos from this Empaako naming ritual to publish a calendar of 2019 which will shared among family and clan members so that more people can be encouraged and inspired to perform the Empaako naming ritual.” Said Atwoki Kasigazi while speaking at the Empaako naming ceremony.

Giving child Empaako name

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.

Throwing away waste in a banana plantation accumulated during child birth

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 especially at clan and family levels and attack from modern religious extremist denominations. 

The Abasiita clan who have a traditional way of greeting among themselves as ‘Yaaka yaaka, yangasana’ loosely translated as lighten, lighten and the person or public responds by saying lighten up also revealed the origin of the Abasiita clan.

According to the head of the Abasiita clan, Tooro Kingdom Mr. Stephen Rwankwenge Amooti, the Basiita clan originated from Nyamurwana, Nyamwesera, Karubata, Itabyama, Malenzi and Muguta.

Planting a banana stem

Mr. Stephen Rwankwenge Amooti, also indicated the sub-clans of the Basiita clan as Abagoma, Abaheeka, Abajwangu, Abakasura, Abajejemi, Abasuura, Abatungabikya, Abahaihi, Abanyererre, Abafanyindo, Abaswago, Abatiti, Abakonya, Katokakirenya and Mukwikwi rwa rwambo.