The weeklong Derik Cultural Festival has opened in Juba with Prof Taban Lo Liyong named personality of the year.
The festival aims at promoting the cultural diversity of South Sudan, human dignity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The festival activities include traditional dances, poetry, and the oral heritage of South Sudan through theatre, lectures, discussion, music and arts.
Speaking during the grand opening of the festival that brings together hundreds of people from different walks of life at the University of Juba on Sunday, the President of the Derik Cultural Festival, Simon Atem Mabior, said this year’s fourth edition comes as an extension of the great efforts started by Derik and his companions in cultural work, in order to maintain the flame of enlightenment, and to keep the spirit of hope, and restore confidence in the creative abilities.
“Whatever the challenges, this festival has been considered one of the most important cultural events in our country during the past few years, and the dream of continuing is one of the real concerns that have been preoccupying those in charge and its supporters,” Atem said
He revealed that the organizing committee established a center registered as the Derik Cultural Center that will be a platform to implement projects that bring together active groups by transforming cultural activities into an institutional act as was done by the Ustaz Derik in Kowto Cultural Center in Khartoum.
He said the Derik Cultural Centre would work with the state actors, the private sector, and the civil society to activate the stalemate of the cultural scene and contribute to the current movement that is slowly mobilized.
Atem said this year’s edition focuses on writing and they have chosen Prof Liyong as the personality of the year.
“In this year’s edition, we chose writing as the main focus and the members of the committee chose the name of our great and genius writer Prof Taban Lo Liyong as the personality of the festival,” he said.
Veteran politician Dr Lam Akol Ajawin lauded the organizers, stressing that it brings memories of music of the past.
“I had the good luck of attending the third edition and we had promised then that these young people will establish the Derik Cultural Center. I am glad to hear the news today that it has been fulfilled,” Akol said
The Undersecretary in the Ministry of Culture Amer Madol Majak said her ministry has been neglected for quite sometimes.
“We have been neglected for quite some time. We have not been empowered and there has been no vision for culture. We are proud to speak of our aspiration to celebrate our diversities but when it comes to the implementation, it becomes a struggle, especially for us at the ministry,” she said.
The post Derik Cultural Festival begins in Juba appeared first on Radio Tamazuj.