Rumbek cultural festival unites communities
Drums echoed across Lakes State as more than 10,000 residents converged on Rumbek for a cultural peace festival organised by the Rumbek Youth and Sports Association with backing from Norwegian People’s Aid. The event marked the World Day for Cultural Diversity and aimed to heal intercommunal wounds.
Songs, dance and sport rebuild trust
Teams from Rumbek East, Wulu and Rumbek Centre swapped rivalry for football, volleyball and Dinka dances. Shared laughter replaced suspicion as youths exchanged jerseys and lyrics, illustrating Executive Director Abbas Mayek Mayen’s belief that culture can break stereotypes faster than any negotiation room.
Colourful troupes also challenged early marriage and gender-based violence, turning traditional chants into advocacy for dignity. By choosing themes of inclusion, organisers delivered what local chief Luka Aguer called “education wrapped in entertainment”, a method welcomed by elders and teenagers alike.
Women claim space in peace dialogue
Poetry sessions spotlighted girls’ rights, urging equal seats at mediation tables. “Peace is stronger with women’s voices,” declared participant Achol Grace, who has since joined a youth peace club. Her performance drew cheers and underscored shifting attitudes toward female leadership within conservative clans.
Festival impact echoes beyond one day
As sunset drums faded, newly formed friendships persisted on messaging groups planning joint clean-up drives and sports leagues. Local commissioner Ador Majak noted that youth-to-youth contact eases security burdens, stating that “a football field costs less than a peacekeeping patrol yet delivers lasting calm.”
Organisers intend to rotate the festival through Lakes State counties, reinforcing lessons and monitoring dispute trends. Observers say the model, rooted in shared heritage rather than external arbitration, offers a replicable blueprint for other post-conflict zones across East and Central Africa.