Alice Basemera Koogere, one of the traditional artisans facilitated by African Continental Crafts Ltd to participate in international crafts competition “Global Eco-Artisan Award and Conference 2022” Winners will receive capital, facilitation to exhibit in international exhibitions in USA and connections to wholesale international buyers
Stephen Rwagweri, the founder and Director of a Ugandan indigenous NGO – Engabu Za Tooro is nominated and will, in September this year, proceed to the Caribbean Island State of Domican Republic to receive an Award of “Social Innovator of his Time” during an international retreat and conference of internationally renowned entrepreneurs, social impact investors and funders in Miches City on the Island. In the same occasion he will showcase the winning innovation and it’s recently incorporated international brand – African Continental Crafts Ltd as its implementing vehicle.
The Award is anchored on the recently published “Traditional Artisan Inclusion” which is a new business model built around cultural assets and artisan traditions in Africa and powered by African Continental Crafts Ltd designed as an impact based social enterprise with focus on contexts of African Continent.
A decade ago, Mr. Rwagweri who is also a culture expert at UNESCO reclaimed the disappearing ancient traditions from his Tooro – Bunyoro motherland in Uganda like Koogere Oral Tradition and Empaako Naming Practice, revitalized their relevance and successfully petitioned UNESCO to inscribe them internationally for their perpetual protection.
The Award and Fellowship are animated by US based Opportunity Collaboration and Convener.org which are globally leading networks of social entrepreneurs and social impact investors and funders.
The Award package includes expert mentorship, facilitation to promote the innovation around the world and connections for the required funding and investments for the implementation at scale.
Tooro Kingdom through its royal administration and after nomination by the Kingdom’s population awarded Mr. Stephen Rwagweri an order of inspirational and distinguished personality in recognition of his contribution to promoting of safeguarding heritage in the kingdom and beyond.
Mr. Rwagweri is a social worker and a culture expert at UNESCO level representing accredited Non Governmental institutions. He is a founder of a 20 years old Engabu Za Tooro culture NGO which has groomed a generation of culture practitioners and inspired culture programming and activism in Uganda and DR Congo with their associated youth and culture movements like Engabu Za Mbooga, Engabu Za Bunyoro and Entagurwa Za Busongora among others.
A culture researcher and scholar, he has internationally published several methodological texts and papers on safeguarding heritage and two masterpiece books on Bunyoro Kitara – Tooro heritage including; “Tooro and Her Peoples: Past, Present and Future” and “Ceremonies and Practices Associated with Empaako Naming System in Uganda”. He led the research and mobilization that resulted in UNESCO inscription of two Bunyoro Kitara heritage elements – Empaako practice and Koogere oral tradition for their internationally backed perpetual safeguarding program where currently he is the lead consultant.
Mr. Rwagweri represents Uganda on International Council of Organizations for Folklore, Folkart and Festivals (CIOFF) and International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD).
A clan head of his own Bafumambogo clan of Tooro and the coordinating chair for the Tripartite Coalitions of Mbogo clan leaders of Bunyoro, Buganda and Tooro Kingdoms.
Mr. Rwagweri has assembled the experience, expertise, networks and collaborations into an international brand called African Continental Crafts Ltd which is a social enterprise on artisans product development, innovations and advancement of competitive digital marketing solutions for crafts, artisan and cultural products from across Africa to the global market economy and hence driving equity and inclusion of marginalized traditional cultural practitioners and entrepreneurs on the continent.