Ugandan Culture Expert on UNESCO Panel at Abu Dhabi Summit

Stephen Rwagweri (2nd left) in Abu Dhabi

Kampala, Uganda - Stephen Rwagweri, Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro and Founder of African Continental Crafts, recently returned from Abu Dhabi where he participated in a prestigious UNESCO panel discussion.

The 6th edition of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, held from March 3rd to 5th, 2024, explored the theme "A Matter of Time." Rwagweri was selected as one of six culture experts to join a UNESCO panel focused on the role of living heritage.

"I was happy to participate in this important discussion," Rwagweri said. "Living heritage is the bridge between our past traditions and the present. It's how we ensure our cultural practices continue to thrive in a changing world."

Abu Dhabi Culture Summit is a major international event that gathers thought leaders from various fields related to art, heritage, and culture. This year's summit focused on how culture can help us navigate a changing world and develop a new understanding of time.

Rwagweri's participation highlights the important role Ugandan culture plays on the international stage. Engabu Za Tooro, the organization he leads, works to preserve and promote the traditional crafts of Uganda. His founding of African Continental Crafts further demonstrates his commitment to showcasing the continent's rich artistic heritage.

Ugandan Culture Expert on UNESCO Panel at Abu Dhabi Summit

Stephen Rwagweri (2nd left) in Abu Dhabi

Kampala, Uganda - Stephen Rwagweri, Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro and Founder of African Continental Crafts, recently returned from Abu Dhabi where he participated in a prestigious UNESCO panel discussion.

The 6th edition of the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, held from March 3rd to 5th, 2024, explored the theme "A Matter of Time." Rwagweri was selected as one of six culture experts to join a UNESCO panel focused on the role of living heritage.

"I was happy to participate in this important discussion," Rwagweri said. "Living heritage is the bridge between our past traditions and the present. It's how we ensure our cultural practices continue to thrive in a changing world."

Abu Dhabi Culture Summit is a major international event that gathers thought leaders from various fields related to art, heritage, and culture. This year's summit focused on how culture can help us navigate a changing world and develop a new understanding of time.

Rwagweri's participation highlights the important role Ugandan culture plays on the international stage. Engabu Za Tooro, the organization he leads, works to preserve and promote the traditional crafts of Uganda. His founding of African Continental Crafts further demonstrates his commitment to showcasing the continent's rich artistic heritage.

UNESCO Culture Expert Stephen Rwagweri to Share Insights at Abu Dhabi Culture Summit

Stephen Rwagweri

Fort Portal, Uganda – February 25, 2024 – Renowned UNESCO culture expert, Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro, and Founder of African Continental Crafts, Stephen Rwagweri, will bring his expertise to the Abu Dhabi Culture Summit taking place from March 3rd to 5th, 2024.

Rwagweri, a leading figure in cultural preservation and development, is set to participate as a speaker and panelist at the summit. This prestigious event will convene brilliant minds, creative thinkers, and cultural enthusiasts from across the globe to engage in thought-provoking discussions on the intersection of culture and the evolving world.

Rwagweri's presence at the summit is a testament to his dedication to promoting cultural understanding, sustainability, and inclusivity. As the founder of African Continental Crafts and the Executive Director of Engabu Za Tooro, Rwagweri has played a pivotal role in empowering traditional artisans and preserving cultural heritage.

The Abu Dhabi Culture Summit presents a unique opportunity for Rwagweri to share his valuable insights and engage in collaborative dialogues with other cultural leaders. His participation is expected to spark meaningful discussions and potentially lead to fruitful collaborations aimed at advancing cultural progress on a global scale.

 

Engabu Za Tooro Executive Director and African Continental Crafts Founder, Stephen Rwagweri officially adopted in the UNESCO's global network of ICH facilitators

Stephen Rwagweri attending the meeting

Stephen Rwagweri has been officially adopted in the UNESCO's global network of ICH facilitators during the 4 days UNESCO's global network of ICH facilitators meeting in Doula Cameroon from 18^th to 21^st December, 2023. In the meeting, Africa was represented by Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Burkina Faso and each country was represented by one delegate. Uganda was represented by Stephen Rwagweri.

Mr Stephen Rwagweri was officially adopted in the UNESCO's global network of ICH facilitators. He specializes in development of artisanal and cultural enterprises, designing innovations in artisanal sector and facilitating implementation of UNESCO core ICH mechanisms including inventories, nominations, programme elaboration, implementation, and project and periodic reporting throughout the world in countries which have ratified the UNESCO’s 2003 Convention. According to Stephen, “Through this UNESCO global network of ICH facilitators, we hope to access public mechanisms to support social impact scaling of our African Continental Crafts enterprise and other enterprises specializing in development of artisanal and cultural enterprises, designing innovations in artisanal sector and facilitating implementation of UNESCO core ICH mechanisms”

UNESCO Certificate

Capacity building is one of the five functions that UNESCO performs to fulfill its mandate. As such, one of the top priorities for implementing the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is its global capacity-building programme. The Programme was put in place in 2009 to support countries in safeguarding their intangible cultural heritage and harness its potential for sustainable development, while promoting broad public knowledge and support for the Convention.

The 2003 Convention places communities at the center of all its safeguarding activities. The capacity-building programme takes an inclusive approach to ensure the widest possible participation of all relevant stakeholders, especially relevant community groups, in the design and implementation of safeguarding activities.

The capacity building program develops community-based inventorying and safeguarding methods, supports the ability of States to effectively implement the Convention, integrate the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage into sustainable development plans, policies and programmes at all levels, strengthens institutional frameworks to help safeguard intangible cultural heritage and enhances monitoring for the implementation of the Convention.

Stephen Rwagweri in Doula, Cameroon

The Programme offers capacity-building services at country level, combining training, advisory services, stakeholder consultation and pilot activities. These can be adapted to specific country needs and thematic topics, always with the view to ensuring the continued impact and sustainability of safeguarding measures at national level.

 

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