“A fixed and closed list of twelve literally meaningless in their own contextual language but functionally rich-magical words of endearment, intimacy or respect, depending on the type of human relationship and at what moment or form of interaction and of which origin is culturally a mystery, shared and transmitted from generation to generation by millions of people across several African communities and territories of the legendary Bunyoro-Kitara Empire, Empaako is a globally unique naming system and now a UNESCO-Inscribed Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity which can be harnessed to build mass solidarity and cooperation for greater Social-Economic progress” 2013. Atwoki – Rwagweri, 2013.
Empaako is practiced by the communities of the legendary Bunyoro-Kitara Empire in the interlacustrine region including Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda, Banyabindi, Basongora, Banyaruguru, Baziba and Banyambooga. The bearers of Empaako practice are estimated to be about five million people, living in the land of Empaako and in diaspora. Researched on and defended by culture scholars led by Stephen Rwagweri. Empaako practice was in 2013 inscribed by UNESCO, on the World List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during UNESCO’s 8th Session of Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage sitting in Baku, Azerbaijan.