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Tuesday, December 11, 2018

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, 9th 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 26th November to 1st 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;




Engabu Za Tooro Delegation to Mauritius at the function









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