Official from Uganda National Commission for UNESCO encourages people from Empaako communities to document their heritage

Daniel Kaweesi speaking at the workshop

The program Officer of Uganda National Commission for UNESCO (UNATCOM) Mr. Daniel Kaweesi has encouraged people from Empaako communities to go back to their communities and document their Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) like Empaako naming system so that it can be preserved and safeguarded from extinction.

“Now that you have attained the required skills and knowledge to document and identify the different ICH like Empaako, it should begin with you to go back and document them so that they are safeguarded from extinction” Said Kaweesi while speaking at the one week capacity building workshop organized by Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) and supported by UNESCO.

The different forms of documentation are human memory, artifacts, family lineage, weaving, painting, curving, music, publications, photography, composition and performances, artistic composition, lithography and audio/video recording among others.

The one week (16^th – 21^st December, 2018) residential capacity building workshop taking place at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal has attracted 47 Empaako bearers from the Empaako communities of Banyoro, Batooro, Batagwenda, Batuku, Banyabindi and Basongora.

Stephen Rwagweri training Empaako bearers in documentation

A cultural practitioner from Tooro, Isingoma Kimome Amooti appealed to the participants of the capacity building workshop not to be selfish but share the knowledge and skills on documentation gained from the training with family members, neighbors and friends to enable sustainable safeguarding of intangible cultural traditions like Empaako naming system.

The Executive Director Engabu Za Tooro, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki encouraged people from Empaako communities to take advantage of the state of the art documentation equipment at Engabu Za Tooro to document their very own intangible cultural heritage threatened with extinction like Empaako naming ritual for it to be sustainably safeguarded.

Rwagweri adds, “our language is weakening because our traditional rituals are no longer being performed. It’s so saddening that our people have surrendered the performance of our traditional rituals to religious leaders for instance installing a heir, a ritual supposed to be performed by family and clan institutions which are weakening.”

“People have failed to make tangible community self-help contributions to safeguard their own traditional heritage threatened with extinction like traditional marriage system and Empaako naming system.” Said Rwagweri while training empaako bearers in documentation at the capacity building workshop in Fort Portal.

Omugurusi Isaaya Kalya speaking at the workshop

Omugurusi Isaaya Kalya Atwoki urged people from Empaako communities to do small things in a great way in order for them to safeguard their traditional heritage like making community self – help contributions because a thousand steps begins with a single step.

“Engabu Za Tooro has done an exceptional job in safeguarding Tooro’s weakening culture and a weakening culture is a sign of a weakening community. We should support Engabu Za Tooro to revitalize and strengthen our culture through making self – help community contributions to the Tutemu Engaro self-help cultural fund.”  Said Isaaya Kalya Atwoki while speaking at the capacity building workshop.

Group photo of the workshop participants

Currently, Engabu Za Tooro is implementing a UNESCO co-funded two year project UGA 01210 aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.

“In order to sustainably safeguard Empaako heritage, we need to stop getting tired of thinking outside the box,” Rev. Fr. Dr. Kabura

Rev.Fr. Dr. Kabura Pascal Adyeri making a presentation

Rev. Fr. Dr. Kabura has appealed to people from the Empaako communities to keep researching more on Empaako heritage so that concrete knowledge on Empaako origin, communities which use Empaako and Empaako meaning can be got “We are researching on Empaako because there is a gap which we want to fulfill. A good researcher doesn’t stop from finding more and the moment we create a ‘berlin wall’ then we shall have limited our capacity to find more important knowledge on Empaako intangible cultural heritage.”Said Rev. Fr. Dr. Kabura Pascal Adyeri.

While speaking at the Empaako capacity building workshop on Empaako heritage yesterday (Wednesday, 19^th December 2018) at Fort Breeze Hotel, Rev. Fr. Dr. Kabura Pascal Adyeri further reiterated that research on Empaako intangible cultural heritage will assist people from Empaako communities to know the exact meaning, usage and origin of Empaako intangible cultural heritage for it to be sustainably safeguarded and revitalized from generation to generation.

Rev. Fr. Kakyomya Isidore Araali of the Runyoro – Rutooro foundation who is also attending the one week residential capacity building workshop organized by Engabu Za Tooro and supported by UNESCO encouraged people from the Empaako communities to safeguard Runyoro – Rutooro language since language is the backbone of our intangible cultural heritage like Empaako naming system in Uganda.

Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki making a presentation

The Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) who also doubles as a UNESCO cultural expert while speaking at the same meeting compared Empaako to religion which survives on mystery, ‘therefore if Empaako loses the mystery then it loses the meaning and that’s what we followed to explain the meaning of Empaako.’ Said Rwagweri Atwoki

The former regent of Tooro King and a popular show host of a culture programs on Voice of Tooro (VOT) like Muzahura, Rev. Richard Baguma Adyeri indicated that Empaako just like language is an important tool for identifying where a person comes from hence the need to preserve it, ‘people of Empaako come from the greater Bunyoro Kitara’ Said Baguma Adyeri.

The one week residential Empaako capacity building workshop to be held from 16^th – 21^st December, 2018 held at Fort Breeze Hotel located in Kabarole district aims at empowering Empaako Empaako bearers to document their own heritage has been attended by over 30 people from the Empaako communities including the head of the Basongora Cultural institution Omukama Kasagama II.

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 NyaMboga and Baziba located in Western Uganda, Eastern DR Congo and Northern Tanzania respectively.

Basongora cultural institution head making a presentation

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

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.

Currently, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform) is implementing a UNESCO co-funded project UGA 01210 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 practice.

Engabu Za Tooro Executive Director Appeals to Empaako communities to mainstream culture in local government planning and budgeting processes for it to be sustainably be safeguarded and revitalized

Stephen Rwagweri making a presentation

The Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro cultural Organisation, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki has appealed to members of Empaako communities to mainstream culture especially Empaako naming system in local government planning and budgeting processes in order for Empaako to be sustainably be safeguarded and revitalized from one generation to another.

While speaking at the Engabu Za Tooro organized event which is facilitated by Engabu Za Tooro and co-funded by UNESCO, Stephen Rwagweri indicated that for Empaako to be sustainably be safeguarded, there is need for Empaako community members from the Empaako local governments to mainstream culture in local government planning and budgeting processes.

The function which was attended by dozens of people including among others cultural practitioners from Empaako communities also included the district Speaker from the newly created Bunyangabu district Mr. Ikagobya Stephen Araali, representatives from the five Empaako communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Basongora, Batagwenda and Banyabindi.

Rwagweri who indicated that, “culture is beyond the forces of demand and supply shouldn’t be commercialized but be entrusted to public entities which are not profit oriented like how it is done in France, China, Belgium and UK”

The one week residential Empaako capacity building workshop to be held from 16th – 21st December, 2018 at Fort Breeze Hotel located in Kabarole district aims at empowering Empaako Empaako bearers to document their own heritage.

During the meeting, the participants were entertained by cultural artists like Master Kalenzi who is popularly known for his songs such as the Obunyamahunde, Busongora bwa Koogere, Garuka, Kodiiro, Nkitungire, Tutaahe, Tutemu Engaro, Ekitahandikire, Endangamuntu, Omuzaire and Engeso among others.

Nkwenge George William performing

Other cultural musicians included DJ Levi popularly known for his songs like Tutemu Engaro, Ebyaitu nibikorwa mukama and omugisha gwomuntu, Kahwa Kansengerwa, Kijegere and Nkwenge George William popularly known for his Engoma Nyabahuma, Kuzinirra ente and folklore was attended by members of Empaako community members including the cultural head of the Basongora community Omukama Kasagama II.

After the one week workshop, 30 practitioners of Empaako naming system will be equipped with the basic knowledge of their intangible cultural heritage, 30 Empaako practitioners will also be sufficiently prepared to document their own practices of Empaako naming system, an interview guide for collecting data on Empaako naming system will be developed and adopted and a scrip for video production of Empaako naming ceremonies will be developed and adopted.

Workshop participants

Data collection teams in documentation of Empaako naming system will be constituted and commissioned, a network of ICH documenters will be established and commissioned, a practical guide to community self-documentation of intangible cultural heritage will be launched and two focus group discussions will have generated data on the whole interview guide on Empaako naming system during the one week residential workshop.

Engabu Za Tooro is currently implementing a two year UNESCO co-funded project UGA 01210 aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.

Empaako safeguarding boss calls for community self-contributions in Empaako safeguarding

Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali speaking

The head of the Empaako safeguarding and revitalization Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali has appealed to people from the Empaako communities to embrace community self-contributions through making tangible self-help contributions in order to sustainably safeguard their intangible cultural heritage threatened with extinction like the Empaako naming system.

Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali who is also the board chairperson of Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) a cultural based NGO with its headquarters based in Fort Portal – Western Uganda also encouraged people from the Empaako communities to safeguard their Runyoro – Rutooro language.

“We need to safeguard our Runyoro – Rutooro language through learning, speaking and documenting it because it’s our identity.  If our culture especially our Runyoro – Rutooro language is safeguarded especially by young people then we can be sure, it will be sustainably safeguarded for generations” Said Araali Kumaraki yesterday (17^th December, 2018) while speaking at the official opening of the one week residential workshop on capacity building at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal.

Stephen Rwagweri speaking

The one week residential capacity building workshop at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal – Uganda conducted by Engabu Za Tooro and supported by UNESCO aims at building the capacity of Empaako bearers to document their own heritage.

The workshop which has attracted over 30 participants from Empaako communities of Banyoro, Batooro, Batagwenda, Batuku, Basongora and Banyabindiand officials from the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO and Uganda Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development will take place from 16^th – 21^st December, 2018.

While speaking at the same event, the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro Stephen RwagweriAtwoki also encouraged people from Empaako communities to embrace community self-contributions in safeguarding their own intangible cultural heritage like Empaako naming system.

Hajat Hajara Nalubega speaking

The senior culture officer of the Uganda ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development Hajat. Hajara Nalubega who is attending the same meeting indicated that government of Uganda is determined to formulate appropriate policies aimed at promoting and safeguarding Uganda’s cultural traditions like the Empaako naming system.

During the recent UNESCO global meeting held from 26^th November to 1^st December 2018 in Mauritius, UNESCO experts recommended tangible community self-contributions from Empaako communities to sustainably safeguard Empaako safeguarding and revitalization.

Engabu Za Tooro is currently implementing a two year UNESCO co-funded project UGA 01210 aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.

Banner of the workshop

In the Empaako safeguarding and revitalization project, UNESCO is contributing 80 percent and Empaako community is supposed to contribute 20 percent. Engabu Za Tooro will soon officially launch a 20 percent “Tutemu Engaro” community self-help contributions to ensure proper sustainability of Empaako safeguarding and revitalization in Uganda.

Engabu Za Tooro begins a one week residential capacity building workshop on Empaako safeguarding at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal

Banner for the capacity building workshop

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) has started a one week residential capacity building workshop at Fort Breeze Hotel, Fort Portal – Uganda aimed at building the capacity of Empaako bearers to document their own heritage.

The one week capacity building workshop which will attract 30 participants from Empaako communities of Banyoro, Batooro, Batagwenda, Banyabindi, Basongora and Batuku aims at empowering them with basic knowledge of documenting intangible cultural heritage, train Empaako practitioners to document their own practices, develop and adopt data collection tools for documenting Empaako naming system.

The 12 Empaako's

During the one week capacity building workshop, a practical guide to community self-documentation of intangible cultural heritage will be launched, a study on Empaako naming system will be conducted and teams of data collection tools will be commissioned.

After the one week workshop, 30 practitioners of Empaako naming system will be equipped with the basic knowledge of their intangible cultural heritage, 30 Empaako practitioners will also be sufficiently prepared to document their own practices of Empaako naming system, an interview guide for collecting data on Empaako naming system will be developed and adopted and a scrip for video production of Empaako naming ceremonies will be developed and adopted.

Data collection teams in documentation of Empaako naming system will be constituted and commissioned, a network of ICH documenters will be established and commissioned, a practical guide to community self-documentation of intangible cultural heritage will be launched and two focus group discussions will have generated data on the whole interview guide on Empaako naming system during the one week residential workshop.

Workshop participants

The one week capacity building workshop will be facilitated by community based professionals in different ICH fields who have gone through training of trainers for community self-documentation of intangible cultural heritage who will be supervised by three specialists in key areas based on the workshop topics.

Engabu Za Tooro is currently implementing a one billion Uganda shillings two year UNESCO co-funded project UGA 01210 on documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.

More on Empaako, you can follow it on Wikipedia https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empaako&prev=search

Kaserebe Mukwikwi and Kijegere welcomed from Mauritius by thousands at KoiKoi Cultural Centre, Fort Portal

EZT cultural troupe performing on the streets of Fort Portal town

Engabu Za Tooro cultural practitioners Zebidayo Mwesige Abbooki (Kaserebe Mukwikwi), a folklore artist and Stephen Mugabo Abbooki (Kijegere), a ritual guide who attended the recent UNESCO global meeting in Mauritius to showcase Uganda’s rich culture to the world were welcomed by thousands of people at a function that took place on Sunday, 9^th December 2018 at KoiKoi Cultural Centre in Fort Portal.

The two Engabu Za Tooro cultural practitioners attended a one week UNESCO global meeting which took 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.

During the function, Empaako naming ritual was performed and revelers were also entertained with traditional Runyege dance, folklore and Ekyoto Mukairirizi (evening fire place where elders and young people gathered to share their traditional tales).

EZT cultural Troupe performing

Revelers were entertained by members of Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Troupe who included among others Mukwikwi Kasererebe, Kijegere and Kajuguta. Revelers were also entertained by Engabu Za Tooro Acrobats Club and Engabu Za Tooro Brass Band.

The function which began at 02:00pm with a match led by Engabu Za Tooro brass band from Fort Portal town to KoiKoi cultural center was also attended by the head of the Empaako safeguarding and revitalization committee Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali and coordinator of Empaako safeguarding committee for Tooro Sub Region, former regent Tooro Kingdom and a presenter of a popular culture radio show on Voice of Tooro FM called Muzahura Rev. Richard Baguma Adyeri.

The head of the Mauritius UNESCO global meeting and also the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro Stephen Rwagweri while speaking at the same function indicated that in the coming UNESCO global meetings, more cultural practitioners will be supported by Engabu Za Tooro to go and showcase Uganda’s rich culture to the world

The two EZT cultural practitioners standing on the podium

Rwagweri Atwoki adds, “people from Empaako communities need to support the safeguarding of their culture through tangible community self-contributions through Tutemu Engaro self-help cultural fund so that our culture is sustainably safeguarded.”

Currently, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform) is implementing a UNESCO co-funded two year project UGA 01210 aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.

The project is being implemented in the five communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of Western Uganda.

More on the UNESCO international meeting in Mauritius follow the links;

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/love-culture-taken-kaserebe-mukwikwi-kijegere-place-dream/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/empaako-naming-ritual-performed-function-organized-entebbe-municipality-legislator/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/mukwikwi-kaserebe-kijegere-officially-welcomed-mauritius-sunday-9th-december-2018-koikoi-cultural-center-fort-portal/

Engabu Za Tooro Delegation to Mauritius at the function

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/empaako-naming-system-exhibited-showcased-unescos-global-meeting-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/kijegere-mukwikwi-kaserebe-perform-empaako-naming-ritual-traditional-runyege-dance-unesco-delegates-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/empaako-safeguarding-revitalization-progress-report-presented-approved-unesco-experts-recommend-tangible-community-self-contributions/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/empaako-naming-system-explained-delegates-attending-unesco-global-meeting-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/head-engabu-za-tooro-delegation-stephen-rwagweri-atwoki-departs-mauritius-unescos-global-meeting/

http://engabuzatooro.blogspot.com/2018/11/kijegere-and-kaserebe-mukwikwi-heading.html

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/engabu-za-tooro-cultural-practitioners-hold-goodbye-show-fort-portal-departing-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/engabu-za-tooro-offers-travel-sponsorship-two-cultural-practitioners-attend-unesco-international-meeting-mauritius-showcase-empaako-rituals/ 

How the love for culture has taken Kaserebe Mukwikwi and Kijegere in a place they could only dream of

Kijegere performing in Mauritius

The two Engabu Za Tooro cultural practitioners are Zebidayo Mwesige Abbooki (Kaserebe Mukwikwi), a folklore artist and Stephen Mugabo Abbooki (Kijegere), a ritual guide who attended the recent UNESCO global meeting in Mauritius to showcase Uganda’s rich culture to the world couldn’t not believe it when they received the news from Engabu Za Tooro Board Chairperson Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali that they have been selected to go and attend the UNESCO global meeting.

“It was a huge surprise attending a UNESCO global meeting to showcase Uganda’s rich culture especially performing the traditional Runyenge dance and Empaako naming ritual. I couldn’t believe it, I love my culture but people especially my peers thought that I was just wasting time and energy promoting our traditions like guiding people to perform Empaako naming rituals, guiding people to perform marriage ceremonies, installation of a heir, teaching young people to perform traditional Runyege dance and spending time to research on my culture because according to them, there is no money in culture.” Said Kijegere.

Kijegere adds, “As a ritual guide, I earn from culture and culture has sustained my livelihood. attending a 10 day residential training of trainers from 19^th to 28^th August, 2018 in Fort Portal organized by Engabu Za Tooro and supported by UNESCO dubbed, ‘community-self documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices association with Empaako naming system in Uganda’ further polished my love and enriched my expertise in culture especially skills and knowledge to document intangible cultural heritage like Empaako naming”

The one week UNESCO global meeting which took 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 attracted ministers of culture from around the world, UNESCO experts on culture, UNESCO ambassadors from around the world and cultural practitioners among others.

Mukwikwi before departing to Mauritius

“I was groomed by Engabu Za Tooro through its Talent Development Programme, its where I identified my talent as a folklore artist and now I am a celebrity because my folklore comedy is broadcasted everyday on TV West which is watched by hundreds of thousands of people every day across Uganda.” Said Mukwikwi.

Mukwikwi adds, “People used to think that there are no opportunities and money in culture but they are wrong because I had an opportunity to go to Mauritius to attend a global UNESCO conference and I was treated as a diplomat sleeping in a five star hotel and rubbing shoulders with celebrity artists from all over the world, ministers of culture, UNESCO ambassadors and UNESCO experts from around the world among others and I am making money as a folklore artist”

The two cultural practitioners performed Empaako naming ritual and showcased Uganda’s rich culture to the delegates at the sidelines of the UNESCO’s 13^th session of Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

According to Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki who presented Empaako safeguarding and revitalization technical report during the UNESCO meeting and was the head of delegation to the UNESCO global meeting in Mauritius indicated that the two cultural practitioners were selected to go and showcase Uganda culture to the world because they are young people who are very talented and above all have a strong passion for culture.

Rwagweri Atwoki adds “In the coming UNESCO global meetings, we shall be taking more people who are talented and have a passion for culture to showcase Uganda’s rich culture to the world if there are tangible community self-contributions through Tutemu Engaro self-help cultural fund”

The two Engabu Za Tooro cultural practitioners Kaserebe Mukwikwi and Kijegere will be officially welcomed to Fort Portal tomorrow Sunday, 9^th December 2018 at KoiKoi Cultural Centre in Fort Portal starting at 03:00pm so that they showcase their experience in Mauritius to people from the land of Empaako.

EZT delegation to Mauritius

Currently, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform) is implementing a UNESCO co-funded two year project UGA 01210 aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.

The project is being implemented in the five communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of Western Uganda.

More on the UNESCO international meeting in Mauritius follow the links;

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/empaako-naming-ritual-performed-function-organized-entebbe-municipality-legislator/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/mukwikwi-kaserebe-kijegere-officially-welcomed-mauritius-sunday-9th-december-2018-koikoi-cultural-center-fort-portal/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/empaako-naming-system-exhibited-showcased-unescos-global-meeting-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/kijegere-mukwikwi-kaserebe-perform-empaako-naming-ritual-traditional-runyege-dance-unesco-delegates-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/empaako-safeguarding-revitalization-progress-report-presented-approved-unesco-experts-recommend-tangible-community-self-contributions/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/empaako-naming-system-explained-delegates-attending-unesco-global-meeting-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/head-engabu-za-tooro-delegation-stephen-rwagweri-atwoki-departs-mauritius-unescos-global-meeting/

http://engabuzatooro.blogspot.com/2018/11/kijegere-and-kaserebe-mukwikwi-heading.html

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/engabu-za-tooro-cultural-practitioners-hold-goodbye-show-fort-portal-departing-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/engabu-za-tooro-offers-travel-sponsorship-two-cultural-practitioners-attend-unesco-international-meeting-mauritius-showcase-empaako-rituals/

Empaako naming ritual performed at a function organized by Entebbe Municipality legislator

People having a traditional meal after Empaako naming

The two Engabu Za Tooro cultural practitioners Zebidayo Mwesige Abbooki (Kaserebe Mukwikwi) and Stephen Mugabo Abbooki (Kijegere) ritual guides performed Empaako naming ritual to ten people in a function organized at the residence of Entebbe Municipality legislator Hon. Rosemary Tumusiime Atwoki at her residence in Entebbe Municipality.

The ten people who received Empaako’s included people from the communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Baganda and Banyankole staying in Entebbe and Kampala who had lost touch with their traditions because of modernization.     

The Empaako naming function which took place yesterday Wednesday 6^th December, 2018 was attended by over fifty people especially from Entebbe and Kampala cities.

During the function, a traditional meal was prepared and the two Engabu Za Tooro cultural practitioners were appreciated for promoting Empaako intangible heritage not only in Uganda but also in outside countries like Mauritius.

The Entebbe Municipality legislator who organized the function appreciated Engabu Za Tooro for promoting Empaako heritage and Kitara culture because culture is an important component of development.

“Culture is important because it helps to identify people and is an important component in development because it can be used tomobilize people for development. Traditional music, traditional clothing, traditional meals and arts and crafts can be used to earn money hence reducing the high unemployment rates especially among young people in Uganda” Said Hon. Tumusiime Atwoki while speaking during the Empaako naming function in Entebbe.

The Empaako naming function was attended by Engabu Za Tooro Executive Director who is also a UNESCO expert on culture, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki.

Mukwikwi and Kijegere who are currently living in Entebbe and Kampala cities to showcase Empaako naming rituals among Empaako communities in the two cities and preparing for their performance at KoKoi Cultural Centre in Fort Portal, arrived on 2^nd December, 2018 after attending a one week UNESCO global meeting in Mauritius.

Some of the people who were given Empaako names

The two Engabu Za Tooro cultural performers will be officially welcomed in Fort Portal on Sunday 9^th December 2018 which will end with a performance at KoKoi Cultural Center, Fort Portal.

During the one week UNESCO global meeting that took 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, the two Engabu Z aTooro cultural practitioners showcased Uganda culture to the world especially the Empaako naming ritual.

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.

Empaako naming practice is facing threats of extinction mostly due to decline of its mother languages (Runyoro - Rutooro), modernization, abandoning the performance of traditional rituals like Empaako naming ritual, weakening cultural institutions especially at clan and family levels and attack from modern religious denominations.

Hon. Rosemary Tumusiime Atwoki speaking at the function

The UNESCO co-funded Empaako safeguarding and revitalization project is implemented among the five communities of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of Western Uganda

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 practice is transmitted through a naming ceremony which has several rituals that have slight variations depending on the community. The meaning and interpretations of the rituals are linked to the value systems of Empaako communities.

More on the UNESCO international meeting in Mauritius follow the links;

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/mukwikwi-kaserebe-kijegere-officially-welcomed-mauritius-sunday-9th-december-2018-koikoi-cultural-center-fort-portal/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/empaako-naming-system-exhibited-showcased-unescos-global-meeting-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/kijegere-mukwikwi-kaserebe-perform-empaako-naming-ritual-traditional-runyege-dance-unesco-delegates-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/empaako-safeguarding-revitalization-progress-report-presented-approved-unesco-experts-recommend-tangible-community-self-contributions/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/empaako-naming-system-explained-delegates-attending-unesco-global-meeting-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/head-engabu-za-tooro-delegation-stephen-rwagweri-atwoki-departs-mauritius-unescos-global-meeting/

http://engabuzatooro.blogspot.com/2018/11/kijegere-and-kaserebe-mukwikwi-heading.html

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/engabu-za-tooro-cultural-practitioners-hold-goodbye-show-fort-portal-departing-mauritius/

http://engabuzatooro.or.ug/engabu-za-tooro-offers-travel-sponsorship-two-cultural-practitioners-attend-unesco-international-meeting-mauritius-showcase-empaako-rituals/