The URDT Cultural Assets Centre, in partnership with the Uganda Community Museums Association, has joined efforts to revive the traditional Empaako naming ceremony in the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom by engaging stakeholders through community dialogues.
This was convened at the URDT Centre for Reflection and brought together cultural leaders, clan leaders, religious leaders, and community stakeholders to discuss strategies for safeguarding and promoting the cultural heritage of Empaako.
Empaako is a significant cultural naming system practiced among the people of Bunyoro and shared with the Batooro, Batuku, Batagwenda, and Banyabindi communities. It involves giving children one of twelve special praise names that symbolize affection, respect, and honor within families and communities.
The cultural practice was recognized internationally when it was inscribed by UNESCO in 2013 as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.
According to Samuel Tumwesige, the coordinator of the program at the URDT Cultural Assets Centre, the initiative seeks to raise awareness about the importance of Empaako and encourage communities to preserve the tradition.
He explained that the centre plans to implement several activities including community awareness campaigns, creative writing and artistic drawing competitions for young people, and stakeholder engagement programs aimed at promoting Empaako naming traditions.
“We are also planning to conduct radio talk shows, participate in community gatherings, and organize more community dialogues to increase awareness and appreciation of this cultural heritage,” Tumwesige noted.
Participants at the dialogue emphasized the need to involve religious leaders, parents, and schools in promoting Empaako traditions. They also recommended the formation of youth groups that can sensitize communities through cultural dances, drama, and educational activities. Additionally, stakeholders called for more research and continuous community dialogues to strengthen the preservation of the cultural practice.
Speaking during the event, Owek. Francis Byamukama Abwooli, the Saza Chief of Buyaga East in the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, appreciated the efforts of the URDT Cultural Assets Centre and its founder, Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, for their continued commitment to promoting traditional culture in the region.
He noted that Empaako naming ceremonies have faced several challenges in recent years, including intermarriages, the influence of new religious beliefs, technological changes, and a growing level of ignorance about cultural traditions. He called upon communities to work together to restore and preserve the cultural practice.
Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, the Founder of the Uganda Rural Development and Training Programme (URDT), emphasized the importance of reflecting on the origins of Empaako and understanding the factors that have contributed to its decline.
He urged communities to recognize Empaako as an important cultural heritage rather than perceiving it as an inappropriate practice as sometimes portrayed in certain religious circles.
“We must love our culture, own it, and practice it. By embracing our cultural norms, morals, and values, we can nurture a generation that respects and preserves its heritage,” he said.
Dr. Musheshe further encouraged stakeholders to act as change agents within their communities, promoting Empaako naming ceremonies and strengthening Bunyoro’s cultural identity.
He stressed that preserving cultural traditions is a collective responsibility and called upon community leaders, parents, and institutions to work together to promote the values and heritage that shape the Bunyoro society.
