By Philip Buda Ladu
South Sudan is set to showcase its rich cultural heritage at the upcoming East African Ateker Community Cultural Festival, which will take place in Soroti City, Uganda.
During the Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Dr. Nadia Arop Dudi, announced that President Salva Kiir Mayardit has been invited his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni, to attend the festival.
Information Minister and government spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueth, said a cultural troupe of approximately 100 individuals, primarily from Eastern Equatoria State, will be selected and sent to Uganda.
“We are expected to take our cultural group, and especially from Eastern Equatoria. These groups will be taken there, about 100 of them will be taken there to go and participate in that occasion,” he told reporters on Friday.
According to Makuei, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage has been tasked and it is currently working on a budget to cover the costs associated with the participation, which will be presented to the Council of Ministers for approval.
“Minister Dudi requested funds, but unfortunately, she did not give us the budget, so she is expected to prepare a budget and present it to the cabinet accordingly” Makuei emphasized.
Uganda is preparing to host the Ateker Cultural Festival for the first time at Soroti Sports Grounds from November 27th to 29th, 2024.
Uganda was selected and granted the opportunity to host this year, 2024 Ateker Tobong’u Lore’ (come back home) Cultural Festival, the New Vision publication, reported.
H.E. Jessica Alupo, the Vice President of Uganda, confirmed the development on July 23, 2024, following a meeting with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House, Entebbe.
The Tobong’u Lore always brings together the Ateker community, which comprises the Karamojong, Iteso of Uganda and Kenya, the Turkana of Kenya, the Toposa of South Sudan and the Nyangatom of Ethiopia.
Ateker is a distinct group of people with closely related customs, laws, languages, and lifestyles who share common ancestry but were divided during migration.
Uganda’s VP, Alupo was quoted by the New Vision as saying she lobbied for the festival to be held in Soroti City, this year because it promotes tourism, investment and culture.
“Elders from Ethiopia, South Sudan, Turkana and Teso-Kenya will congregate in Soroti, and I have communicated to the Iteso Cultural Union (ICU)” Alupo said in July, 2024.
This cultural exchange event provides an excellent opportunity for South Sudan to strengthen its ties with neighbouring countries and promote its diverse cultural traditions on the regional stage.