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| Group photo at Engabu Za Tooro |
A delegation
from Engabu Za Mboga, DR Congo today 9th 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.
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| 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.
Charles Kateeba. I find this story very interesting. However, the time of Banyamboga' migrating from Bunyoro - Kitara should re - exermined. If the Empaako was inherited from the Luo, how could the Banyamboga have moved in the era of the Bachwezi and yet carried Empaako with them. According to Apolo Kivebulaya's book. He says they moved in the mid 17th Century. That sounds more plausible.
ReplyDeleteCan we a change and visit those communities? there are interesting. I would like to know if those said communities border each other's.
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