Members of parliament for Imotong in Eastern Equatoria Assembly have urged community elders to use their traditional culture to promote peace with the neighbouring communities.
MPs Tobiolo Alberio Oromo and Flora Solomon, who represent Imotong and Hatire constituencies of Ikwoto County in the State Assembly, made the appeal during the graduation of youth into “monyimiji”, the traditional leadership, Radio Emmanuel reported.The two MPs advised the elders that they should build peaceful co-existence between the Imotong and the neighbouring communities instead of instilling hatred and conflict among the people.
They stressed that the youth should be taught to use their energy for productive activities such as cultivation of crops and not to raid and attack other communities.
Over 800 youth who had been undergoing the traditional initiation process on Friday performed an open dance at Imotong to conclude their rites.
Imotong cultural initiation of the youth into the traditional leadership involves one week of tough training of foot drilling, long distance running, mountain climbing, hunting and honey harvesting at broad daylight without smoke.
Initiates are stripped naked and they spend the entire week sleeping in a shrine built up in the mountainside; a local tower of wood is also raised for the youth to keep watch over their territory.
The initiation is done every six year but the current youth were delayed two extra years due to several factors that included the 2010 elections, 2011 referendum and the independence.