The Amakondere, the royal musicians, perform in honor of King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV during the "empanga" ceremony in which one of the world's youngest kings assumes his full duties of leadership over the Tooro tribe in Fort Portal, Uganda.
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The royal drums, some almost 100 years old, must be presented to the king before he can assume his royal office. A caretaker inspects the drums for damages before the ceremony.
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Royal caretakers prepare royal regalia next to the palace at a ceremonial hut to be presented to the king at the ceremony. The spears and drums, some of them hundred of years old, are passed on from generation to generation.
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A goat is slaughtered during a traditional cleansing ceremony before the royal regalia are presented to the king and public.
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Young members of the Tooro tribe carry the royal drums in a ceremonial procession, presenting the regalia to the public.
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Dressed in traditional gown, King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro walks between his subjects. He is the world's youngest king and many have great hopes that he is able to connect the past with the future.
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Traditionally members of the Tooro youth are carrying ancestral spears during ceremonial processions, showing their symbolic readiness to defend their king against enemies. Each spear has its own name and story and was given from one generation of Tooro royals to the next.
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A royal guardsmen of the Tooro kingdom stands guard at the 18th birthday ceremony of the young King Oyo which is held close to the royal palace.
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Like many other royal dignitaries from all over Africa King Tchiffi Zie Jean Gervais of Ivory Coast came from West Africa to witness the "coming of age" ceremony of King Oyo in Uganda.
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Many of the guests from across Africa wore fine traditional clothes, gold jewelry and ivory.
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Cows are driven into the Tooro palace. Cattle are an important sign of wealth in the Tooro culture. Traditionally the survival of the tribe depended on the well being of the livestock and therefore cattle are an important element of ceremonial events.
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A ceremonial master milks one of the cows.
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A young woman carries the milk in a special pot to the king, so he can drink it. This ritual marks the new king's unity with the livestock so that he may prosper as the cattle does.
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Many people in Uganda's northwestern town of Fort Portal gather beside the road to get a look at their new king.
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