Engabu Za Tooro delegation meets international delegates to discuss culture

Engabu Za Tooro delegate with Japan Ambassador

Engabu Za Tooro UNESCO delegation who are currently attending a UNESCO global meeting in Bogota, Columbia yesterday Wednesday, 11^th December, 2019 met international delegates to discuss culture and showcase Uganda culture.

Engabu Za Tooro UNESCO delegation are Deo Katekere Rubongoya, Sylivia Catherine Nyangoma and Engabu Za Tooro Executive Director and CIOFF Uganda President Stephen Rwagweri who is the head of the delegation.

Some of the international delegates met were UNESCO ambassadors, ministers of culture, culture experts, UNESCO diplomats and funding bodies in the field of arts and culture.

According to the head of Engabu Za Tooro UNESCO delegation, Stephen Rwagweri, the international delegates promised to develop and implement policies which will safeguard intangible oral traditions threatened with extinction like indigenous languages, Empaako and Koogere oral traditions.

Stephen Rwagweri at the UNESCO global meeting

Rwagweri adds “International delegates promised to allocate more funding to projects aimed at safeguarding intangible cultural heritage threatened with extinction especially in developing countries in Sub Sahara Africa”

Engabu Za Tooro UNESCO delegation has already submitted a final report and audio – visual materials on the implementation of a UNESCO co-funded Empaako project and is exhibiting Uganda culture at Agora International Convention Centre where the UNESCO global meeting is taking place.

Engabu Za Tooro delegates with an international delegate

The 14^th ICH IGC UNESCO session is taking place between 8^th – 14^th December, 2019 and 156 countries have been represented across the world.

The 14^thsession of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, organized by UNESCO and hosted by the Government of the Republic of Columbia has attracted hundreds of people from across the world who include ministers of culture from all over the world, UNESCO ambassadors, culture experts, artists and funding bodies in the field of arts and culture among others.

Currently Engabu Za Tooro is implementing a UNESCO co-funded Project UGA 01210 which focuses on documentation and revitalization of Empaako naming rituals and practices in Uganda.