List the key activities that were carried out during this reporting period in order to achieve these expected results. Please describe the activities in detail and note their effectiveness or any problems encountered in implementing them.
ESTABLISHMENT OF EMPAAKO DOCUMENTATION UNIT
A unit equipped with audio-visual recording kit, (Sonny Px wx704k) still photo camera (Nikon) 22.4 mega pixels, video editing computer (apple) Mac Book Pro 13.3, Studio led monitor (42HDMI) heavy duty studio sound mixer (H4) and a stand by generator (3KA) m was established.
The functions of the unit include audio-visual recording, video editing, photo editing, archiving audio-visual materials and photographs into the online repository platforms like flickr, YouTube and audio farm and maintaining video and photo libraries. The unit also links with communication departments for dissemination through social media platforms, website, blog and activity and project reports. It serves the ongoing ICH documentation in the communities and beyond and provides ongoing training in skills of documentation.
DEVELOPING A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO COMMUNITY-SELF DOCUMENTATION OF ICH
A documentation expert was contracted and reviewed existing literature, including the UNESCO ICH global capacity-building materials on documentation and community-based inventorying, and traditional documentation systems of five communities concerned, as well as interviewed practitioners and stakeholders and compiled, and presented a draft customized practical guide which was also proofread by 3 specialists. The final document was printed in English version and in Runyoro - Rutooro and guided the workshops and data collection.
TRAINING OF TRAINERS (TOT) WORKSHOP
Ten days TOT workshop was held and was attended by 34 participants who included professionals at community level in the field of performing art, language, broadcasting, photography, videography and publication and the 17 members of Project Management Committee. Five specialists in ICH facilitated the workshop and were drawn from Makerere University, Uganda Ministry in charge of Culture, The Uganda Museum, the Cross Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU) and Communication Department of World Vision International in addition to Ms. Emily Drani and Ms. Juliana Akoryo as National ICH experts.
12 participants were certified as trainers of ICH documentation and put into the databases for future use.
Capacity building workshops in Fort Portal and Hoima
Two, 10 days residential capacity building workshops were held in Fort Portal in December, 2018 and another in Hoima in January, 2019 with 37 and 32 participants respectively. Each workshop, used 7 facilitators from the commissioned community based trainers supervised by two national experts. Participants were commissioned as community-based documentors.
Documentation of ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system
12 commissioned community based ICH documentors from each community, technically guided by 10 community based professionals, collected data through interviews and focus group discussions in five communities. Two Empaako naming ceremonies were recorded from each of the five communities. Specialized consultants were contracted to compile, edit and produced the data in different forms;
- 102 page book printed in English with Runyoro – Rutooro translation (2000 and 3000 copies) respectively. Five 30 minutes video productions (one per community), four different audio and audio visual formats for social media platforms and 20 visual art pieces in different styles.
Dissemination of the documented knowledge of the ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system.
Dissemination aimed at imparting knowledge and skills of transmitting the practice to practitioners, youth and public for increased appreciation and viability of the practice. Diverse methods to reach diversity of audiences were employed.
- Monthly clan representatives meetings were organized throughout the project period to offer planning and monitoring support and share progressive results.
- A weekly two hours talkshow was conducted throughout the project period on Voice of Toro FM for mobilization of participants, information and dissemination of progressive results.
- A brochure (500 copies), four banners, T-shirts (300 pieces) were produced and distributed.
- Two national press conferences, several spontaneous national media coverage and two 2 hours national television programmes were organized.
- Eight music items around the documented knowledge were produced and integrated in community entertainment.
- General launching event was organized and attended by about 1500 people who included clan leaders, practitioners, leaders of community institutions, schools, museum, library and theatre operators.
- Distribution of book and video copies was done to 25 schools, two community libraries and five national and community museums.
- The 102 documentation book and 30 minutes video productions on each of the five communities are uploaded on two websites and the audio-visual materials are adapted to different formats and shared through different online platforms where they give results as follows;
Website:
www.engabuzatooro.or.ug (January - December, 2021)
- Number of visits 16,094
- Hits 231,454
Blog : www.engabutooro.blogspot.com, 72,115 views (all time)
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ezt_uganda, 3,856 following and 436 followers
Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/engabuzatooro, 5,000 friends
Facebook page: https://facebook.com/Engabu-Za-Tooro-Organisation-124973400901132, 2,374 likes and 2,432 followers
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Engabuzatooro 105,203 views and 1.24k subscribers (lifetime)
All audio recordings and music developed around the project is consolidated in an audio farm. https://soundcloud.com/engabu-zatooro, 4,466 plays (all time)
The photos are uploaded to flickr: https://www.flickr.com/people/158032353@N06/, 39.5k Views (4th December 2021).
Linking meaning of Empaako heritage to environmental sustainability
The program of planting trees led by families and clans, inspired and tagged to the meaning of Empaako heritage continued expanding among the Banyoro community and facilitated by Cross Cultural Foundation Uganda.
Linking safeguarding program to activities and processes of international year of indigenous languages.
As part of building efforts to revitalise Runyoro/Rutooro language which is a key driver of safeguarding Empaako practice, efforts were made to follow and participate where resources allowed, in global activities and process for observing international year of indigenous languages 2019 with a view of sharing information and identifying opportunities for revitalisation of the language.
Two of the activities which were foreseen in the general timetable (2018 - 2021) were not done.
- Providing scholarship to community based professionals to facilitate language training and promotions. This was due to failure to realise funding.
- The nomination of the element on extended basis to cover the emerging claimant communities. This was due to communities which raised the demand in Eastern DR Congo were displaced by the still ongoing wars in addition to effects of COVID – 19 pandemic.