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| EZT cultural troupe performing on the streets of Fort Portal town |
Engabu
Za Tooro cultural practitioners Zebidayo Mwesige Abbooki (Kaserebe Mukwikwi), a
folklore artist and Stephen Mugabo Abbooki (Kijegere), a ritual guide who
attended the recent UNESCO global meeting in Mauritius to showcase Uganda’s
rich culture to the world were welcomed by thousands of people at a function
that took place on Sunday, 9th December 2018 at KoiKoi Cultural
Centre in Fort Portal.
The
two Engabu Za Tooro cultural practitioners attended a one week UNESCO global
meeting which took place at Swami Vivekananda International Convention Centre
(SVCC) in Port Louis in the Republic of Mauritius from 26th November
to 1st December 2018.
During
the function, Empaako naming ritual was performed and revelers were also
entertained with traditional Runyege dance, folklore and Ekyoto Mukairirizi
(evening fire place where elders and young people gathered to share their traditional
tales).
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| EZT cultural Troupe performing |
Revelers
were entertained by members of Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Troupe who included
among others Mukwikwi Kasererebe, Kijegere and Kajuguta. Revelers were also
entertained by Engabu Za Tooro Acrobats Club and Engabu Za Tooro Brass Band.
The
function which began at 02:00pm with a match led by Engabu Za Tooro brass band
from Fort Portal town to KoiKoi cultural center was also attended by the head
of the Empaako safeguarding and revitalization committee Msgr. Peter Kumaraki Araali
and coordinator of Empaako safeguarding committee for Tooro Sub Region, former
regent Tooro Kingdom and a presenter of a popular culture radio show on Voice
of Tooro FM called Muzahura Rev. Richard Baguma Adyeri.
The
head of the Mauritius UNESCO global meeting and also the Executive Director of
Engabu Za Tooro Stephen Rwagweri while speaking at the same function indicated
that in the coming UNESCO global meetings, more cultural practitioners will be
supported by Engabu Za Tooro to go and showcase Uganda’s rich culture to the
world
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| The two EZT cultural practitioners standing on the podium |
Rwagweri
Atwoki adds, “people from Empaako communities need to support the safeguarding
of their culture through tangible community self-contributions through Tutemu Engaro
self-help cultural fund so that our culture is sustainably safeguarded.”
Currently, Engabu Za
Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform) is implementing a UNESCO co-funded two year project
UGA 01210 aimed at revitalizing ceremonies and practices associated with
Empaako naming system in Uganda.
The
project is being implemented in the five communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku,
Batagwenda and Banyabindi of Western Uganda.
More on
the UNESCO international meeting in
Mauritius follow the links;
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| Engabu Za Tooro Delegation to Mauritius at the function |
