THE EMPANGO CEREMONY
Empango is the annual celebration held in the Tooro Kingdom to celebrate the anniversary of coronation ceremony.
Prior, before the abolition of Kingdoms in 1967, Empango celebrations would be marked twice a year during every harvesting season, where the king’s subjects would come along with harvests and other forms of gifts which they would offer to honor his good leadership.
The Empango festivals would last nine days, but lately, following the reinstatement of cultural institutions by the 1995 Uganda Constitution, it is celebrated annually (once a year) for four days, starting on the coronation anniversary date (when the reigning king ascended the throne), with two days in Karukiiza palace, one day at the Queen mother’s residence, another day at the Omukonda’s residence.
On this day, the king sounds a big royal drum known as empango which is heard only once a year. The drum he sounds is the very drum which he sounded when he ascended the throne. As is the norm in Tooro, when the king dies, the drums are turned upside down. They are also turned upside when a new king ascends the throne.
Empango celebrations involve a series of festivities; The performance of rituals on the coronation anniversary begins at 3am. In the morning, Tooro Subjects and other invited guests arrive in the king’s palace at Karuziika.
The king’s sword (kabindango) is put besides a nine-legged throne (nyamyaro) and the king’s walking stick (Omwigo Gwomunembe).
All dressed in back-cloth, the king sits on the Royal throne which is kept at Karuziika palace, the King’s official residence. His official wife (Omugo) seats on his right while nyina’Omukama (his official mother) sits on his left.
CELEBRATING THE OMUKAMA OF TOORO
After the death of his father Oyo Nyimba Rukidi became the Omukama ( King ) of Tooro on 12th September, 1995. He was only three years old at the time and was recognised as the youngest reigning monarch in the world.
The celebration is held at the Karuzika ( the royal palace ) in the Tooro Kingdom’s capital city Fort Portal. The principal part of the celebration is the Omukama’s beating of the Empango Nyalebe drum. The drum is banged nine times to mark the beginning of the celebration and to reaffirm that the Omukama is the Rukirabasaija ( the greatest man ) of the kingdom. The drum itself is said to date back to the Omukama’s Babito ancestors. Other royal artefacts such as spears, shields and drums are also blessed during the ceremony.
During the celebration the Omukama, is dressed in bark cloth and is joined by other high ranking royals.
Whereas the Babiito is the ruling royal clan for Toro Kingdom, the Basiita clan is the only one charged with the responsibility of taking lead in the traditional rituals for the annual Empango celebration at Karuzika palace. Led by the head of the Basiita clan, other clan members, while carrying royal regalia and other instruments of power in Toro Kingdom climb an anthill traditionally known as Akaswa ka Toro where they announce to the world the celebration of Empango.
These, later on, chant songs of praise to the King and the Kingdom while proclaiming their everlasting allegiance.
Chants and proclamations to fallen Toro Kingdom Kings, Queen Mothers and other Kingdom heroes are also sung as the Basiita clan members dance around the anthill in traditional Kanzu wear.
BLESSING THE REGALIA
After traditionally declaring the annual Empango celebration at the anthill, the members of Toro kick off rituals for Empango celebration.
The Basiita clan later present the royal regalia before the King for a blessing. The royal regalia include drums, spears, and shields among other items. The King blessed them by touching on every item one after the other as they are presented to him. The King however blesses the royal drums by sounding them nine times each as they are presented before him.
The presentation of the royal regalia helps the King to confirm that all instruments of power are still intact and that the Kingdom is at peace. “Every year towards the Empango celebration, the royal regalia is traditionally cleansed fast and later brought before the reigning King for a blessing.
MILKING
Milking the King’s favourite cow is the other traditional ritual that is performed during Empango.
The milking ritual is performed by the Abasuumbi clan in Toro Kingdom. These are also charged with the responsibility of caretaking for the King’s cattle. During the milking ceremony, several cows are brought before the King, but only one is milked.
The milk is collected in traditional pots known as ebyanzi. The milk is brought before the King for a blessing and later boiled
THE TABOOS
It is taboo in Toro for a woman to climb on the Kingdom’s anthill (Akaswa) during the traditional ritual ceremonies.
For the Basiita men that climb the anthill to perform the rituals, must have abstained from sex for the past nine days. “The abstinence from sex is part of the cleansing in preparation for the special ritual.
THE ROYAL DANCE
Amakondere is the traditional royal dance for Toro. It is sounded using traditional trumpets and drums. The Amakondere is an elegant and graceful dance with a slower rhythm. It is to the tune of Amakondere that the King’s subjects dance as they slowly jump and shout in celebration.
Occasionally, the King also sounds the royal drum to the tune of Amakondere for his subjects to dance. No formal speeches are made on eve of the celebration. The King only waves at his subjects as he walks back to the palace after performing the rituals.