Engabu Za Tooro offers travel sponsorship to two cultural practitioners to attend a UNESCO international meeting in Mauritius and showcase Empaako rituals.

Mukwikwi and Kijegere after receiving air ticket from EZT Board Chair

Two cultural practitioners will attend the 13^th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, organized by UNESCO and hosted by the Government of the Republic of Mauritius to showcase Uganda’s rich cultural heritage.

A folk dancer and a ritual leader will be performing Uganda’s Empaako naming ritual at the side events of the UNESCO sessions in Mauritius.

The selected cultural practitioners who were officially presented the offer by Engabu Za Tooro Chairperson Board of Directors Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali on Friday, 9^th November, 2018 at Engabu Za Tooro Main offices in Fort Portalare Stephen Mugabo Abbooki (Kijegere) and Zebidayo Mwesige Abbooki (Kaserebe Mukwikwi) who were both groomed by Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) through its talent development program.

The Head of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) delegation Mr. Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki will present a technical report on Empaako safeguarding project in Mauritius.

Mukwikwi, Stephen Rwagweri & Kijegere

In 2012 Engabu Za Tooro carried out research on Empaako heritage and successfully petitioned UNESCO to inscribe it on the world list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. Inscription means recognizing the intangible heritage as it belongs to its bearer communities but also of interest to the entire humanity. Currently Engabu Za Tooro is implementing a UNESCO co-funded Project UGA 01210 which is on documentation and revitalization of Empaako naming rituals and practices. This also involves promoting this heritage, not only among its communities but also in international cultural frame works.

The one week UNESCO global meeting will take place at Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre (SVCC) in Port Louis in the Republic of Mauritius from 26^th November to 1^st December 2018.

Stephen Mugabo Abbooki (Kijegere) is a folk dancer (good at traditional Runyege dance) and growing as a cultural researcher, arts manager and ritual leader who is guiding especially on marriage, succession and naming rituals of Batooro community. Zebidayo Mwesige Abbooki (Kaserebe Mukwikwi) is a ritual leader and drama performer.

Engabu Za Tooro has provided for each of the cultural practitioners with an invitation and admissibility to access and perform to such a UN gathering and a fully paid return air ticket. In the spirit and principle of stakeholder partnership in safeguarding our national and cultural heritage and promoting talents for national development, the beneficiary practitioners should mobilize resources for accommodation and feeding expenses at the standard of this meeting, from their personal resources, employers, family and their audiences.

Kijegere performing

These international meetings attract exhibitions, performances and demonstrations of national symbols and cultural heritage from the participating State Parties as side events throughout the duration of the meeting. These cultural practitioners will operate the Uganda’s performance and exhibition stall and demonstrate especially rituals and practices of Empaako heritage. They are also free to enter the convention room and sit in the section of UNESCO accredited NGO and participate in the main meetings in observer capacity.

You can view all the photos of the press conference on the UNESCO international meeting in Mauritius on flickr, follow the link https://www.flickr.com/photos/158032353@N06/?