Engabu Za Tooro to host a global event on folklore in Fort Portal on 22nd and 23rd June 2019

Invitation Card

Engabu Za Tooro has been selected by the International Council of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF) to host a global event on folklore slated for 22^nd and 23^rd June 2019 at Koi Koi Cultural Centre and Gardens restaurant respectively in Fort Portal – Uganda.

The global event is aimed at hosting CIOFF Africa leaders, showcasing and filming representative Uganda’s folklore heritage and installing Uganda’s CIOFF Associate status towards establishment of CIOFF Uganda Section in Fort Portal, Uganda.

CIOFF Uganda is already invited to send a group to perform at the World Festival Parade Brunssum in the Netherland from 10^th - 15^th July, 2020.

During the event Uganda folklore artists will showcase their heritage to a global audience, a cultural exhibition will held, installing CIOFF Uganda as an Associate Status and swearing in of Interim President of CIOFF Uganda. Children and students will pay an entrance of UGX 1,000 and adults will pay UGX 3,000.

Some of the international delegation who will attend the global meeting are President CIOFF Africa Prince Isaac YAMEKUE from Cameroon, Africa Sector Representative on International CIOFF Council, Mr. Marcel ZOUNON from Benin and International filming crew who will film representative Uganda’s folklore heritage.

Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Troupe performing

The global event will also be attended by the minister in charge of Culture - Republic of Uganda and representatives of the Technical team at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, a representative of the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO, representatives from The Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), representatives from National NGO’s and professional Associations in the field of culture and art and Folklore National experts.

Engabu Za Tooro 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.

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Empaako naming ritual performed among the Batuku community, a traditional meal of melted butter soup and millet bread prepared

Taking cattle for grazing

Empaako naming ritual among the Batuku community was performed on Monday 23rd May, 2019 at the home of Katusabe Christopher Apuuli of the Abacwezi clan in Kazigiso village, Kyabukungu parish in Butungama Sub County, Ntoroko district.

Among the Batuku community, Empaako naming ritual is either performed very early in the morning or very late in the evening and before performing the Empaako naming ritual, all the cows have to first be taken for grazing. Women who are not yet married are not allowed to be part of the Empaako naming ritual.

Batuku community are traditional cattle keepers occupying Ntoroko district which borders DR Congo in Western Uganda. The Batuku traditions and language are almost similar to those of the Basongora who are also traditional cattle keepers in Kasese district, Western Uganda.

Taking the child out of the house

The room where the mother and the child stay in after birth (Ekyoto) has a permanent fire place to control germs and reduce bad smell. The boy child gets out of the room after four days while a girl child gets out of the house after three days.

The boy child was carried out of the house by a man (any relative of the father of the child) out of the room after four days. While getting the child out of the house the man carrying the child gets in and out of the house laughing and carrying a spear for four times.

The spear is supposed to be placed in the right hand side of the entrance of the house where the child and mother are staying. A girl child is got out of the house with a traditional tray (orugali) made out of traditional art and crafts. Ash is put on the traditional tray and a girl child is got out of the house by a woman who is a relative of the father of the child.

After getting the child out of the house, he was given to the head of the family to suggest Empaako name, other family members also suggested Empaako names. Finally, Empaako name was confirmed by the head of the family and after giving the Empaako name a traditional meal was prepared and served which involved millet and melted butter (Ekyagyo) as soup.

Family members partaking a traditional meal

The head of the family has to first partake the traditional meal four times for a boy child and three times for a girl child before giving permission to other family members to partake on the traditional meal.

The boy child was given Empaako name of Amooti because the child resembles the grandfather whose Empaako name was Amooti. Other names given to the child were Mucunguzi Wamala. The father of the child is Ruhweza Simon Atwoki and the mother of the child is Kobusinge Dinnah Abwoli.

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