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.