Juba, South Sudan- Hon. Rita Dominic Jada, the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Sports, emphasized the importance of cultural diversity in uniting South Sudanese communities. Speaking, during the youth cultural festival held in Juba in August, she urged young people to embrace and capitalize on the nation’s rich heritage to foster cohesion and build bridges. “Young people should emulate the church, which brings different people together, our rich diversity should not be a reason for division in our nation rather it should be a reason for unity and togetherness” she advised.

Hon. Rita also expressed concern over the involvement of youth in conflicts in the country, underscoring the pivotal role they can play in lasting peace-building. The Cultural Festival was organized by the United Nations Population Fund Youth Advisory Panel (UNFPA-YAP) on August 4, 2023, under the theme “Embracing cultural diversity for peaceful coexistence” to celebrate the rich heritage of South Sudan.

The Youth Advisory Panel’s Chairperson, Anna Maneno acknowledged that South Sudan is a rich country gifted with a lot of resources. “For so long people talk about only the negative things happening in our country they see the war, inter-communal violence, suffering, and poverty yet ignore the positive things; We young people are not poor, we are rich in cultures, 64 tribes with different beautiful things, our physical features, we have minerals beyond the oil and talents that can attract the world to this country,” she said.

The UNFPA Representative Dr. Ademola Olajide who joined the young people in the pomp and dance noted that it's important to support the Youth Advisory panel to interrogate cultures, to root out the negative aspects, and to understand and celebrate the positive aspects. “We celebrate a diversity where our strength lies, a culture that must be sustained and promoted  as a vehicle for equitable and sustainable development; a tree with deep roots laughs at the storm just as a society firmly rooted in positive and progressive cultural practices will be more resilient,” Dr. Demola said.

The Cultural Festival was a convergence of different groups of young people with unique ethnicities, languages, religions, and traditions within South Sudan and beyond to acknowledge and celebrate their diversity. It is noteworthy that South Sudan is home to 64 ethnic communities, each contributing to the nation’s rich heritage.