The newly elected chairperson of Lakes State Artists’ Association has promised to promote peace and unity through the music industry.
The association’s chair-elect, Kuch Mayang Kuch, popularly known as ‘Black King Shine’, has won an election by a 74.5 percent margin against two rivals.
Gai Mathiang Gol came second by 25 percent, while Abraham Wantok, popularly known as ‘Abraham square’, garnered a paltry eight percent of the 240 votes cast during the polls held in Rumbek town on Thursday.
During the hotly contested polls, Chol Mayom, known as ‘Young Fire’, was elected unopposed as the secretary general.
Alfred Akol Manga, the chairman of the electoral committee, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the the elections of Artists Association was successfully conducted. “We have successfully conducted an election, and the election has ended free and fair elections,” he said.
He further said three candidates battled it out for chairmanship while the secretary general’s position attracted only one candidate.
Speaking at the event, Kuch vowed to unite all artists in the state, urging them to use their music to promote peace. “I am happy for the commitments all of you artists have made and for your trust in me. I will be working with you, and I will be working to take Lakes State Artists Association to the next level,” he said.
Runner-up Gai Mathiang Gol said, “The election has ended successfully, and I would like to thank those who stood with me. Those who voted for me and those who did not vote for me, you are all my brothers and my sisters.”
For his part, Chol Kuotwel Manhom, Acting Minister for Culture, Youth and Sports, congratulated the artists for the successful conduct of the polls. “The results which you have heard from the commission are not our results, those of us who are on the high table here. They are your own results,” he said.
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