Youth Urged to Embrace Bark Cloth Craftsmanship for Economic Empowerment

Nnaalinnya Agnes Lubuga Nabaloga has encouraged young people in Buganda to actively engage with and preserve their cultural heritage, emphasizing that traditional practices like bark cloth production hold significant, untapped economic potential.

Her remarks came during the inauguration of a month-long exhibition and training initiative focused on promoting the value, conservation, and contemporary uses of bark cloth. Nnaalinnya stressed that safeguarding indigenous traditions is crucial for maintaining cultural identity while simultaneously fostering economic development and creating employment opportunities.

The Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus, Archbishop Augustine Kasujja, the chief guest, lauded the ingenuity of Uganda’s ancestors and urged for this ancestral knowledge to be passed down to younger generations. He stated that nurturing these inherited skills among the youth could lead to job creation and contribute positively to national development.

Participants at the event, including state minister for Older Persons Jackline Mbabazi and representatives from Bumu Art Gallery, underscored the need to enhance the quality and market appeal of bark cloth products. They also highlighted the importance of increasing the cultivation of mutuba trees, providing training for artisans, and securing legal protection for Uganda’s bark cloth heritage.

Bark cloth, a craft derived from the inner bark of the mutuba tree, is recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. While traditionally used for ceremonial purposes, it is increasingly finding its way into modern fashion, art, and décor, presenting new avenues for economic empowerment.

This initiative aims to bridge the gap between tradition and modernity, ensuring that valuable cultural crafts like bark cloth production not only survive but thrive, offering sustainable livelihoods for the youth. Source: Nile Post