Death announcement of the former Patron of Engabu Za Tooro, Late Mr. Gideon Nkojo Atwoki.

 

The Board of Directors of Engabu Za Tooro informs the members, partners and friends of the death of Mr. Gideon Nkojo Atwoki who was a patron of the organization from 2003 to 2009. During his tenure, he helped the organization to establish cultural programmes which are now thriving up to UNESCO level and the scholarship scheme to educate the talented youth in Tooro region.

Mr. Gideon Nkojo who was an economist worked among other positions, as governor Bank of Uganda and World Bank representative in different countries before retiring while at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC.

A son of a former prime minister of Tooro Kingdom the Late Hosea Nkojo, Engabu Za Tooro joins the family, the Bagaya clan, the Tooro Kingdom, the citizens of the Republic of Uganda and the international community to mourn an accomplished and polished citizen of the human family.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

We shall wait for communications of the burial arrangement from the family and Engabu Za Tooro shall organize Gideon Nkojo memorial activities in due course.

Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki

Secretary Board of Directors

Engabu Za Tooro

26^th November, 2020

Engabu Za Tooro 2019 Annual Report, Executive Director’s Statement:

 “A year of applying skills and competencies for comprehensive documentation of people’s ceremonies, practices and folk expressions.” Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki

 

Stephen Rwagweri attending a global meeting in Togo

Dear members and stakeholders, we bring to you the summary and impressions of our work in 2019. We are happy to note that, we achieved about 70% of our set targets for the year. These targets were set following the strategic priorities which include consolidating a diversified resource mobilization strategy and identified program area, developing human resources base for culture and building effective national and international networks.

“Tutemu Engaro self-help community fund” was launched at community level and generated interesting lessons and new opportunities both at community and international level.

Community resources like cows hitherto unknown to contributing to project budget were raised and a group of good will ambassadors to speak for a community fund among community members emerged. The drive led us to discover an emerging discussion at international level of the community philanthropy which seeks to change the perception of community members as mere receivers of charity in the development practice which is targeting them. In the 2020 we shall explore how we shall participate and contribute in this discussion at international level, using our initiative as a case study.

Projects on improving traditional handcraft skills to produce for the modern tastes, professionalizing performing artists and documenting clan totems and linking safeguarding of their cultural values to preservation of bio-diversity were developed and which will attract broad engagements with potential partners in 2020. The program of safeguarding Koogere oral tradition-an element which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Urgent Safeguarding List, was also developed to kick off a dialogue on accessing funding priority in two or three years time.

The year concluded a two years UNESCO co-funded project with deliverables including: A master piece publication on naming rituals of the five communities in western Uganda along with accompanying five video productions. The CIOFF-Uganda, a chapter of International Council of Organizations for Folk Arts and Festivals was launched by Prince Isaac Yamekue from Cameroon who was the CIOFF President for Africa along with other delegates representing country sections.

In the year under review, we went ahead with developing professionals in the culture sector, beginning with the technical team at office to process facilitators, community coordinators and documentation operators and trainers. It was the most challenging undertaking but also providing us with great lessons.

The operational targets for 2020 in order of priority will include the following:

1.       Consolidating deliverables and results of the concluding UNESCO-co-funded project UGA-01210 as back up material for resources mobilization. This will include publishing brochure and documentary on the project results and establishing mobile exhibition facilities for ongoing dissemination in public activities and engaging relevant institutions for reproduction of books and videos and their adoption as educational materials in schools and non-formal educational programs.

2.       Following up and engaging UNESCO structures for the prioritization of the developed safeguarding project of Koogere oral tradition.

 3.       Engaging several potential partners and customization of the three developed projects as stated above.

 4.       Linking our initiative of community self-help fund to the emerging international discussion on community philanthropy.

5.       Consolidating the established CIOFF-Uganda section towards an organization, which is independent of Engabu Za Tooro as a founding base.

Activities will focus more on project design, research and writing than festivals and big workshops since 2020/2021 is expected to be a busy electioneering period in Uganda.

2019 was indeed a year of results and we thank all our action teams and partners and hope for continued support in the years ahead.

Stephen Rwagweri

Executive Director/ Lead Consultant

To access the full report, download it here

Engabu Za Tooro is now consolidating the achievements of a UNESCO co-funded Empaako project

Empaako naming ceremony among the Batuku community

Engabu Za Tooro is now consolidating the achievements of a UNESCO co-funded Empaako project through ongoing dissemination of the project results like Empaako book titled, “Ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system.”

The organization is also disseminating Empaako naming videos for the five Empaako communities of Batooro, Banyoro, Banyabindi, Batuku & Batagwenda which can be accessed on http://www.youtube.com/user/Engabuzatooro. Public meetings, online Empaako communities’ engagement and mobile exhibition of Empaako naming materials like books and videos is also ongoing throughout Empaako communities.

As part of efforts to document, promote and sustainably safeguard Empaako tradition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, Engabu Za Tooro is consolidating an already developed online Empaako platform which can be accessed on www.empaako.org. Engabu Za Tooro is consolidating the online Empaako platform through training members from Empaako communities to learn how to interact with the online system so that an engaged online Empaako network is expanded and strengthened which will create awareness on Empaako Intangible Cultural Heritage and also advocate for continued Empaako safeguarding.

Audio-visual studio which was a project that emerged out of a UNESCO co-funded Empaako project is currently documenting intangible cultural heritage of Empaako communities and training Empaako community members in audio-visual documentation skills to enable them sustainably safeguard their own heritage threatened with extinction through audio-visual documentation.

During the two year UNESCO co-funded project, ritual guides were organized and trained in safeguarding their heritage through documentation and dissemination and now Engabu Za Tooro is involved in strengthening and expanding a network of ritual guides to sustainably safeguard heritage of Empaako communities. The organization is also training more ritual guides from Empaako communities in documentation and dissemination of their heritage to enable them sustainably safeguard their heritage.

Engabu Za Tooro implemented a two year UNESCO co-funded project UGA 01210 titled, “Documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda.” 

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).

Abafumambogo clan head asks Tooro clans to emulate the Abazira clan

Stephen Rwagweri speaking

The head of the Abafumambogo clan Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki has appealed to clans of Tooro to emulate Abazira clan because of their enormous contribution to the safeguarding and revitalization of Uganda culture.

While giving a key note address at the annual Abazira clan meeting on Friday, 27^th December, 2019 at the home of Edmond Manyindo in Kyenjojo district Rwagweri who is also Engabu Za Tooro Executive Director and CIOFF Uganda president indicated that members of the Abazira clan contributed massively in the inscription of both Empaako and Koogere oral traditions on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage”.

“In the implementation of a UNESCO co-funded Empaako safeguarding and revitalization project through documentation, members of the Abazira clan also contributed massively because even the film on the performance of Empaako naming ceremony among the Batooro community was filmed at the home of the head of the Abazira clan Mr. Tadeo Balisanga,” Said Rwagweri

According to the head of the Abafumambogo clan, Tooro heritage can only be safeguarded and revitalized only through such community self-help contributions because without community self-help contributions, Koogere and Empaako oral traditions would never be inscribed on UNESCO’s list.

Stephen Rwagweri with the head of Abazira clan

Rwagweri also appreciated members of the Abazira clan for holding regular clan meetings and encouraged other clans to adapt the Abazira clan model because regular clan meetings ensures proper upbringing of children, ensures education of children based on Tooro culture, ensures safeguarding of clan ancestral places.

Regular clan meetings encourages clan members to uplift their livelihoods through promoting a culture of self-reliance and promotes a culture of self-documentation of clan traditions.

Clan meetings also promotes regular performance of traditional rituals and ceremonies like Empaako naming ceremony, helps clan members to know each other and strengthens clan institutions.

Currently, the Abafumambogo clan head who is also Engabu Za Tooro Executive Director is spearheading the implementation of a UNESCO co-funded Project which focuses on documentation and revitalization of Empaako naming rituals and practices in Uganda.

Empaako naming ceremony video filmed at the home of the head of the Abazira clan 

Abafumambogo clan head appeals to clan and family heads to organize regular meetings

Stephen Rwagweri speaking

Abafumambogo clan head who is also the Executive Director Engabu Za Tooro Stephen Rwagweri Atwoki has appealed to clan and family heads to regularly meet to enable clan and family members strengthen their weakening clan and family institutions.

Rwagweri who is also the CIOFF Uganda president was speaking yesterday (Friday, 27^th December, 2019) at the Abafumambogo clan meeting held at the home of Arthur Mutabazi in Kiryagonya village in Hakibaale Sub County, Kabarole district. The Abafumambogo clan meeting was attended by hundreds of Abafumambogo clan members mostly from Hakibaale Sub County.

“When family or clan members come together, they think together and act together for the development of their communities and the meetings can be at family, lineage and clan levels.” Said Rwagweri.

The Abafumambogo clan head indicated that regular clan or family meetings will ensure proper upbringing of children based on Tooro culture, ensure education of children, ensures safeguarding of family land, family burial sites and ancestral places.

Stephen Rwagweri in a group photo

Regular clan and family meetings encourage family or clan members to uplift their livelihoods through promoting a culture of self-reliance, promotes a culture of self-documentation of the family or clan traditions to ensure they are safeguarded for generations.

Clan and family meetings also promotes regular performance of traditional rituals and ceremonies like Empaako naming ceremony, helps clan or family members know each other and strengthen family and clan institutions.

Currently, the Abafumambogo clan head who is also Engabu Za Tooro Executive Director is spearheading the implementation of a UNESCO co-funded Project which focuses on documentation and revitalization of Empaako naming rituals and practices in Uganda.

Watch the video of the Abafumambogo clan anthem 

Listen to the audio of the Abafumabogo clan anthem 

A book on ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system

Empaako naming among the Batuku community

This book presents a comprehensive documentation in form of text, transcription and photography of the Empaako naming system.

The first chapter introduces five bearer communities of Empaako naming system which have been covered by this research and two chapters that follow bring out the definition, interpretations, translations and theories of the origin of Empaako naming system as a cultural practice.

Chapters four and five dwell on description, preparations and performances of Empaako naming rituals and ceremonies and explanation of the underlying spirituality and social philosophy in five Empaako naming communities.

Chapter six expands on the social functions of Empaako names in daily life of the bearers in the interactions with the immediate others in the context of the culture within its community and society. The underlying final meaning and interpretation is also explained.

Both the risks and threats of the entire Empaako practice in the context of the changing religious, social and economic contexts are explained in chapter seven which also articulates the safeguarding measures being undertaken and their emerging results.

Empaako naming among the Banyoro community

This documentation which is also presented in audio-visual formats has reclaimed the hither to disappearing complex knowledge about Empaako practice and especially its attendant naming rituals and ceremonies and their spiritual and moral meanings and interpretations. The documentation which has been done with massive participation of the bearers, practitioners, custodians and stakeholders has edited the details of the practice especially on naming rituals and perceived meaning in the details of the practical use of Empaako names, in order to adapt the practice to the changing social, economic and religious context of communities. The enduring values, meaning and practices in this heritage have been consolidated and promoted while the meanings and actions that have been outlived by time and the changing contexts have not been given much emphasis. Such meanings and actions practiced by some families which have been edited out included those that can be mistaken not to be compliant with fundamental human rights as enshrined in international instruments, those actions which the changing economic and structural contexts render them unpractical and those, actions and meaning which set a sharp conflict with the changing religious context from traditional religions to the emerging modern religions where most of the Empaako bearers are irreversibly moving.

The overall objective of the documentation was to improve the viability of Empaako practice by reclaiming the disappearing knowledge, promoting enduring values and removing distortions so that Empaako naming system as a cultural practice is conveniently transmitted by its bearers to successive generations.

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.

DOWNLOAD THE BOOK

Engabu Za Tooro delegation meets the former Columbia beauty queen -- discuss preservation of heritage of indigenous communities in Africa

Stephen Rwagweri with former Miss Columbia

Engabu Za Tooro UNESCO delegation on Friday, 13^th December, 2019 met the former Miss Columbia Ms. Vanessa Mendoza at the Agora Convention Centre in Bogota and discussed the preservation and safeguarding heritage of indigenous communities in Africa.

Vanessa Mendoza who held the Miss Colombia title in 2001 – 2002 grew up in poverty. Her father died when she was still young, leaving her mother to care for the family. Despite the poor conditions the family endured, Vanessa showed early interest in becoming a model, and began pursuing that career until she became the first Black Miss Colombia.

According to the head of the UNESCO delegation, Stephen Rwagweri “the meeting with the former Columbia beauty queen will increase funding for projects aimed at safeguarding and preserving and revitalising  the cultures of indigenous communities across the African continent since the beauty queen has a lot of influence among the wealthy celebrities in America”  

UNESCO delegates at the Uganda exhibition stall

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.

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.