The authorities in Aweil North County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State have launched a program to encourage cultural dances to promote cultural identity and fight against new negative fashions and cultures, a local government official said.
Northern Bahr el Ghazal State’s four counties; Aweil North County, Aweil West County, Aweil East County, and Aweil South County are inhabited by the Dinka Malual whose members keep livestock and cultivate for livelihood alongside hunting and fishing among others.
With the coming of new cultures and modern technologies, some changes have emerged in society that affect old methods of food preparations, cultural dances and respect among the people.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Aweil North County Commissioner Kiir Chan Wol said the Dinka Malual cultural performance activities were officially launched and will be conducted freely across the county.
“Today (Tuesday) we have launched the traditional dance activities because we want to promote our traditional customs, especially for Dinka Malual, to prevent youth from acquiring modern unwanted customs and the same activities are conducted in all payams in Aweil North County,” he said.
The commissioner revealed that he issued a local order three months ago directing all communities in the county to promote the cultural dances and practices. He said he also got approval from Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Governor Simon Uber Mawut to allow the conduct of the customary gatherings.
For his part, Makuei Geng, a resident of the county, commended the initiative by the authorities and said they have been seeing new negative norms acquired by their youth that contradict the local culture.
“The traditional dances are much supported to be conducted in and around Aweil North County because we have been experiencing bad concerts being carried out by local youth which may affect our culture,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Maria Abuk Ayii, a social activist in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, said that cultural activities have so many benefits physically and socially.
“It helps us in physical exercise and to know how best to respect our grandfathers and grandmothers because they do not know anything about Western cultures,” she said. “Since our culture is put aside and we borrowed western cultures, generations are totally confused and they do not know how to respect themselves and interact with grandparents.”