1. Cecilia Pennacini University of Turin
Italian Ethnological Mission
In Equatorial Africa
ITALIAN RESEARCH
IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION:
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE COOPERATION
Cecilia Pennacini University of Turin

2. The Italian Ethnological Mission in Equatorial Africa is a research group established under the patronage and the economic support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 2004,The Mission has been led by Prof. Cecilia Pennacini.
It began its activities in in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), to later extend its interests to the entire Great Lakes Region (North-western Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda). Presently the Mission carries out anthropological, ethno-historical, politological, and ethno-musicological research in the Kivu region (Democratic Republic of Congo), on the Uganda side of Rwenzori mountain, and in the Kampala area, in a constant and close cooperation with local institutions (Makerere University, Uganda Museum) as well as international ones (Università Italo-Francese–Galileo Project, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Corus project, Erasmus+ programme of the European Union), and with the support of the Italian Embassy in Uganda.

4. HISTORY

5. Edited by Cecilia Pennacini
Exhibition Ruwenzori The people of the Moon Uganda Museum Museo Nazionale della Montagna, Torino May-July 2006
Edited by Cecilia Pennacini

7. Photo by Vittorio Sella, Ibanda, 1906, The base camp of the Duke of Abruzzi Expedition

9. Contemporary situation

10. RELIGION, POLITICS AND CONFLICTS IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION OF AFRICA
The project aims to study the conflict which has historically characterized the Rwenzori region and its political and religious implications. It focuses mainly on the contemporary situation, taking into consideration from a political, economic and social perspective the relations between the Uganda Central Government and the Rwenzururu movement, the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the presence on the field of different militias.

11. CULTURAL HERITAGE

12. CORUS PROJECT Socio-historical approach to Natural Sacred Sites and contemporary implications for the preservation of this heritage (Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar)
In the Italian Ethnological Mission in Equatorial Africa took part in a three-year CORUS Project (French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IRD - Institut de recherche pour le développement). The project aimed to study and preserve a selected number of sacred sites (especially sacred forests), analysing with an interdisciplinary approach the environmental aspects (botanic), but also the cultural ones (history, archaeology and anthropology). The purpose is to understand the cultural negotiations that develop around these sites and ensure the sites’ long-term preservation .

13. The sacred grove at Mubende hill

20. Buddo Naggalabi coronation site

21. The Sacred Forest of the Rwenzori

24. The Sacred Grove of Gihanga (Rwanda)

26. MUSEUMS

27. Memorandum of Understanding
between The University of Turin Museum System (Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography) and The Uganda Museum For future collaborations regarding the joint study of our museum collections, organiziation of exhibition and events, etc.

28. Research, Cooperation and Teaching
Nowadays, anthropological research should be carried out within a collaborative framework actively involving local institutions and communities. The collaboration between Unito, Makerere and the Uganda Museum offers us the fertile field where we can build together a better knowledge of African cultures. At the same time, research can’t be separated from teaching: The constant trasmission of knowledge and research methods between scholars and students is necessary for the continuity of our projects. The European Union Erasmus+ programme gives us the concrete possibility of carrying out this fruitful collaboration for the present and the future.

29. Thanks, Grazie