Western Bahr El-Ghazal launched on Tuesday a seven-day Culture and Arts Festival to celebrate and strengthen the rich diverse cultures of the state under the theme “The broader way to nation Building is through arts and culture.”
Governor Rizik Zacharia Hassan expressed his gratitude for the first ever cultural festival in the state which he wants to be repeated annually, Voice of Hope reported.Ha said the cultural celebration marked a new phase in building up the state cultures and arts.
Mr Zachariah said the festival will host more than 20 ethnic and cultural performances from the diverse tribes in the state.
He explained that the festival was very important because South Sudan has 64 languages and 24 of them are spoken in Western Bahr El Ghazal.
UNESCO Director Khalid Halid noted that the management of cultural diversity is complex while trying to build a national identity.
He said the understanding of cultural diversity and identity values was a positive force for national development.
The seven-day cultural festival organized by the state information ministry will display dances, films, poems, fine arts, lectures, handcrafts and a books fair.