By Yang Ater
Lakes State Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports has issued a ministerial order dissolving the State Artists Association and appointing an interim leadership team to manage the organization until new elections can be held.
In Ministerial Order No. 2/2025, seen by No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, Minister William Koji Kirjok dismissed the entire association and appointed interim leaders to resolve ongoing issues among artists.
The new interim leadership includes Zachkaria Joth Maker (J. White) as Chairperson, Mary Awuou Makoi (Mary Lion) as Deputy Chair, Sebit Makol Dut (Dr. David) as Secretary General, Majier Makoi (Above Man) as Secretary for Finance, Chol Majok Mangar, and Gabriel Malou Majok (Matition) as members.
Minister Kirjok urged the interim body to organize peace and reconciliation meetings within three months, hold elections within six months, mobilize resources, and manage the association’s office until new leadership is elected.
Kuc Mayak Kuc, known as King Black Shine, the recently elected chairperson, expressed his discontent with the dissolution.
He had just returned from a successful meeting in Rumbek East County aimed at addressing issues within the music industry.
“I submitted an application to the ministry for a peace initiative among Lakes State artists, and I was surprised to learn of the dissolution through social media without any prior communication from the minister,” he stated.
Kuc emphasized that the artists had established a two-year term limit in their constitution and that the minister’s decision has angered many.
While some artists expressed dissatisfaction online, Kuc managed to calm tensions and encouraged them to seek confirmation from the governor regarding the minister’s actions.
“The elections we held last year were successful, and I was in the process of fixing various issues within the Lakes State Artists Association, including promoting artists’ rights and welfare,” he added.
Kuc questioned the government’s interference, stating, “why disrupt the music industry when we were making progress?”
The Lakes State Artists Association held elections on January 10, 2024, where Kuc won with 74.5% of the vote against two opponents, Gai Mathiang Gol and Abraham Wantok, who garnered 25% and 8%, respectively, from a total of 240 votes cast at the Akon Buoi Cultural Center in Rumbek Town.