An African Oral tradition on women leadership inscribed by UNESCO

A Ugandan NGO “Engabu Za Tooro -Tooro Youth Platform for Action” uses culture to promote gender equality. About eleven years ago it identified, research on and profiled a very rich African oral tradition build around a heroine called Koogere and an era of women leadership. 

Part of the women group who petitioned UNESCO to recorgnise Koogere Oral Tradition

Part of the women group who petitioned UNESCO to recorgnise Koogere Oral Tradition

A gender programme was developed around this oral tradition and its results have been documented. In 2010 the organization worn accreditation to UNESCO to offer advisory services to the Intergovernmental Committee for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. 

Using this opportunity, the organization in 2011 mobilised women groups to petition UNESCO to inscribe this oral tradition on women leadership on the world list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. 

The evaluation of the nomination was done on the oral tradition which was inscribed at the 10^th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage which took place from 30^th November to 4^th December 2015 in Windheock Namibia. 

To access the full dossier of the Koogere Oral Tradition go to: http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?pg=00704