South Sudanese Youth Commemorate Mundari Festival Promoting Unity

By Debora Akur Chol, South Sudan.

The Mundari Cultural Festival, held annually in Terekeka County, along the riverside in South Sudan, is a vibrant celebration of unity and cultural preservation.

This year, thousands of youths participated, and UNESCO commended the event for its role in promoting cultural heritage and fostering social harmony through African culture streaming apps and platforms

UNESCO Country Director Julius Banda highlighted the need to pass down cultural values to future generations, primarily through language preservation and ensuring that all children, particularly girls, have access to education.

He encouraged South Sudanese communities, especially the Mundari, to use their cultural identity to promote peaceful coexistence among the country’s 64 tribes.

Speaking to African Culture TV, Director Juluis Banda said: “As we congratulate you for promoting culture, let us ensure that we transmit it to future generations by keeping the language, teaching it to the children, and keeping the girls in school and finishing their education.

“As we go forward, let us use our identity and culture to promote peaceful co-existence among the 64 tribes that make up South Sudan.”

The event, marked by vibrant traditional dances, also featured the neighboring communities, such as the Bari of Juba County, the Nuer, the Acholi, the Cholo, and Ugandans on African heritage TV.

The function was graced by traditional Mundari leaders alongside state and national government officials.

The chairperson of the organizing committee, John Bero Pitia, said the festival’s purpose was to foster unity between the Mundari and the neighboring communities, which sometimes experienced conflicts.

“This event has brought the people of South Sudan together.

“It has united individuals from all the Payams of Terekeka who came in love and peace,” Pitia said.

He called on the Mundari youths to uphold the spirit of unity to guarantee lasting peace.

“I want to tell my community, the Mundari, let us welcome and show love to our brothers who join us in the event. We want them to be together,” he stressed.

The event highlighted the vital role of youth in promoting peace and the significance of community collaboration in sustaining unity across South Sudan.