Empaako naming ritual performed among the Banyabindi community

Preparing a traditional meal

Empaako naming ritual was performed among the Banyabindi community on Thursday, 18^th April 2019 at Kamihoko village in Bugoya Sub County, Kasese district at the home of Byaruhanga Emmanuel Atwoki.

The Banyabindi and Basonsongora are the indigenous minority communities in Kasese district with similar or related traditional customs like the Batooro and Banyoro like Empaako naming system. The dominant community in Kasese district is the Bakhonzo community. 

Different from Empaako naming ritual among the Batooro community, the Banyabindi community sacrifice a goat to cleanse a child and the child is also supposed to get out of the house at 5pm.

The performance of Empaako naming ritual among the Banyabindi community is also different from Empaako naming ritual performance among the Batooro community because it also involved three children dancing three times in and out of the house tasting on the millet bread (Oburo) from the head of the family for a girl and for a boy, they are supposed to dance four times.

The baby child who was given Abwoli Kugonza by the head of the family Mr. Byaruhanga Emmanuel Atwoki is a daughter of Sunday Joseph Adyeri and Akorebirungi Robinah Abwoli.

The Empaako naming ritual which started at 10:00am with cleaning the house where the mother and child stay and throwing the dust to the banana plantation, collecting grass to be put in the sitting room where the Empaako naming ritual is going to be performed.

A goat was sacrificed to cleanse the child, women prepared a traditional millet bread and roasted meat soup.

The mother of the child was officially brought to the sitting room where the Empaako naming ritual was performed accompanied by children and women from the clan and the family, traditional meal was served.

Empaako naming ritual

After eating, Empaako naming ritual was performed which involved the mother of the child giving the child to the head of the family who starts to look at the child and starts to identify different features which might be resembling some people within the family (Kutonda).

The head the family officially gave the child Empaako after critically analyzing the different features of the child which caused laughter and smiles. After Empaako naming, three children come dancing and singing to the head to the family three times and each time they come, they eat a millet bread from the head of the family (Kuguruka Ekisuburu).

The ritual also involved giving gifts to the child, merry making, eating traditional meal and drinking local brew and singing and dancing

Currently, Engabu Za Tooro is implementing a UNESCO co-funded project UGA 01210 on documentation and revitalization of Empaako naming rituals and practices. 

Abafumambogo clan anthem launched, Clan leader puts emphasis on building clan structures

Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Troupe launching the Anthem

The clan anthem of the Abafumambogo clan “Mbogo Na Kambogo” has officially been launched at a colorful ceremony attended by hundreds of people who included the Rt. Rev. Reuben Kisembo Amooti the Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki the clan leader of Abafumambogo in Tooro Kingdom and Hon. Ategeka James Mugarama Akiiki who is the current Bunyangabu district Chairperson.

While speaking at the official launch on Sunday, 14^th April 2019 at Engabu Za Tooro offices in Fort Portal, Rwagweri Atwoki who is also the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro indicated that the anthem is aimed at inspiring Abafumambogo strengthen their homes, invest in education of children and safeguard their land.

“This year (2019), more emphasis will be put on setting up clan structures at village, parish, Sub County, county and district levels so that clan mobilization is strengthened.” Said Rwagweri Atwoki.

During the clan meeting, a number of positions for the Abafumambogo clan leadership were filled by Nyakoojo John as secretary, Imelda Tibakanya as treasury, Rt. Rev. Reuben Kisembo as advisor and Ayesiga Muzamil as youth mobiliser.

Ategeka James speaking at the function

According to the clan head, some of the achievements registered by the clan leadership so far are composing a clan anthem, resolving conflicts among clan members, opening up cooperation with Abafumambogo of Bunyoro Kitara kingdom and visiting homes of Abafumambogo clan members to inspire them work hard and promote and preserve their heritage.

The Bunyangabu district chairperson Hon. James Ategeka Mugarama encouraged Abafumambogo clan members to work hard and improve their household income to enable them get out of poverty. The Bunyangabu district boss also appealed to Abafumambogo to invest in education.

During the clan meeting, clan members contributed money to assist running the activities of the clan like clan mobilization. The meeting was entertained by members of Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Troupe, Master Kalenzi and Ayesiga Muzamil among others.

To play or download the Abafumambogo anthem, follow the link https://soundcloud.com/engabu-zatooro/mbogo-na-kambogo-final 

Bunyangabu district boss tips people on savings and investments to get out of poverty

Hon Ategeka James Mugarama speaking at the meeting

The district chairperson Bunyangabu Hon. Ategeka James Mugarama Akiiki has appealed to the Abafumambogo clan members in Bunyangabu district not to only keep their money to enable them get out of poverty.

“Don’t only keep money but also focus on investing the money in productive ventures like commercial poultry farming or modern banana farming for it to be profitable to enable clan members get out of poverty.” Said Hon. Ategeka James while speaking at the Abafumambogo clan meeting on 13^th April, 2019 at the residence of Bunyangabu district boss at Kyakazini village, Piida Parish in Kiyombya Sub County, Bunyangabu district.

Hon. Ategeka James who is a Mufumambogo and a member of the Abafumambogo Kwemanya group adds, “the main intention of starting this clan association is to know each other’s talents and use the different group talents to uplift the livelihoods of the Abafumabogo community in Bunyangabu district.”

Abafumabogo clan leader in Tooro region, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki who was the chief guest at the same meeting encouraged the Abafumambogo clan members to form associations starting at the village level to enable them know each other.

Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki speaking at the meeting

“We need to form Abafumambogo clan associations like Abafumambogo Kwemanya group to enable the Bafumambogo clan members know each other, after knowing each other, they can start to think collectively and then work together to fight poverty.” Said Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki.

The former Makerere University guild president and a lawyer with State House, Ms. Susan Abbo while speaking at the same event encouraged Abafumambogo clan associations in Bunyangabu district to formulate serious laws to govern clan association’s capital to avoid making loses.

Abbo adds, “every clan meeting, clan members need to come up with tangible actions aimed at getting clan members out of poverty for instance making serious investment decisions from the collective clan capital saved.”

The Abafumambogo whose clan totem is a buffalo are common in Tooro and Bunyoro Sub Regions of Western Uganda and some of the prominent Bafumambogo clan members are Hon. Henry Muganwa Kajura who is a former government minister, Rt. Rev. Reuben Kisembo Amooti the Bishop of Ruwenzori Diocese, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro and Hon. Ategeka James Mugarama Akiiki who is the current Bunyangabu district Chairperson.

Delegation from DR Congo visits Engabu Za Tooro, requests to be added on UNESCO’s Empaako inscription

Group photo at Engabu Za Tooro

A delegation from Engabu Za Mboga, DR Congo today 9^th April, 2019 visited Engabu Za Tooro offices in Fort Portal and requested to be added on UNESCO’s Empaako inscription so that their Empaako heritage can be safeguarded for generations.

Officially, Engabu Za Tooro inscribed Empaako in 2013 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and Empaako inscription petition was endorsed by five communities who are the Batooro, Banyoro, Batagwenda, Batuku and Banyabindi.

The three man delegation led by Rev. Canon. Balinda Kandole Tito Adyeri also included Kiiza Kagwahabi Faustin Akiiki and Stephen Baleemu Balyebuga requested to be added on UNESCO’s inscription list because people from Mboga have Empaako, speak almost the same language as Runyoro – Rutooro and their cultures are almost related to Banyoro and Batooro cultures.

“Mboga community with a current population of 280,000 people broke away from the Great Bunyoro – Kitara empire in 1573 during the Bacwezi dynasty, they speak a language called Runyamboga and the cultural rituals like Empaako naming rituals are almost similar or related to Banyoro – Batooro cultural rituals” Said Rev. Canon. Balinda Kandole Tito Adyeri

Rev. Canon. Balinda Kandole Tito Adyeri adds, “Mboga community have the same clans like the clans of Banyoro – Batooro and most of them are involved in crop farming and cattle keeping as their main economic activity just like Bunyoro and Tooro.

DR Congo delegation (three in middle)

According to Rev. Canon. Balinda Kandole Tito Adyeri, in DR Congo apart from Banyamboga community, other DR Congo communities which use Empaako naming system are Abanyamitego community in Mitego Kingdom, Abagengere community in Bunia, people of Sota,  people of Chomia and people of Kasenyi.

Engabu Za Tooro Executive Director, Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki accepted to add DR Congo communities on UNESCO’s Empaako Inscription list if the communities are ready to get free, prior and informed consent from the relevant cultural and government institutions like Kingdoms, clans, districts and provinces, culture resource people, opinion leaders and NGOs implementing culture related projects.

“DR Congo Empaako communities are also supposed to prepare to get an endorsement from a Permanent Secretary of a relevant ministry of Culture so that the current Empaako file is reviewed to include Basongora and Banyaruguru of Uganda and an international file is officially prepared and submitted to UNESCO for Empaako inscription.” Said Rwagweri

A researcher from DR Congo will be recruited by Engabu Za Tooro to assist in facilitating the Empaako inscription exercise.

Inscription of DR Congo Empaako communities and Uganda communities not on the current project like Basongora and Banyaruguru on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding will assist the communities have their Empaako heritage documented, preserved and safeguarded for generations.

Doors will also be opened for added communities to directly benefit from UNESCO support to develop programs aimed at safeguarding and revitalizing practices and ceremonies associated with Empaako naming system.

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.

Because of culture, a small town in Western Uganda is organizing a global conference on folklore

Engabu Za Tooro Folklore artists performing

Situated in the foothills of the ice caped Rwenzori Mountains and bordering the conflict prone but mineral rich Eastern DR Congo, for the first time in its entire history, Fort Portal is slated to organize a global conference on folklore festivals and folkart.

Situated near the equator, the area which has the highest concentration of crater lakes per square kilometer in the world, many rivers flowing from the ice caped Rwenzori Mountains, cool climate, fertile volcanic soils and beautiful people called the Batooro has been selected by The International Council of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF) to host the international conference from 31st to June 3rd, 2019

Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki, Engabu Za Tooro Executive Director who is spearheading the global conference, “the global meeting has attracted over 22 representatives from across the world who are coming to see Uganda’s rich culture and debate on how they can develop Intangible Cultural Heritage inspired programs for the preservation of folklore and folkart.”

“Once the CIOFF Africa meeting and the installation of Engabu Za Tooro as an associate member of CIOFF representing Uganda are successful, this opens our community to numerous opportunities like automatic inclusion as members of International Council of Organizations for Folklore, Folk Art and Festivals (CIOFF)” Said Kaahwa Kansengerwa who is coordinating the global conference.

Kansengerwa adds, “CIOFF Africa meeting will promote Uganda folklore and folk artists on the international level through participating in international folklore festivals, attract more intangible cultural heritage inspired programs for the preservation and safeguarding of folklore and folk art and finally CIOFF Africa meeting will promote Fort Portal city dream.”

Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki

To jubilate and warmly welcome CIOFF AFRICA delegates, and prove our fitness for the task ahead us of forming a national section, Engabu Za Tooro will host a cultural folklore and folk art festival at Gardens showgrounds – Fort Portal, on 2nd June 2019, doors opening at 12:00pm.

The festival at Gardens show ground is aimed at mobilizing and raising the necessary funds to host the Folklore and Folk Art Festival at Gardens Restaurant, Fort Portal. Children and students will pay an entrance of UGX 1,000 and adults will pay UGX 3,000.

The organisation is accredited to provide advisory services to UNESCO (ICH Convention) and accredited as an observer of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Currently, the organization is co-funded by UNESCO (Intangible Heritage Fund) and local contributions to revitalize and safeguard the practice of the Empaako naming system through community self-documentation among the five communities of the Banyoro, Batooro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi in Western Uganda so that their capacities can be enhanced to transmit knowledge, and skills to successive generations and mobilise practitioners to revive the practice.