Uganda will be hosting East Africa’s premier cultural event, ‘the Ateker Re-Union Culture Festival 2024’.
The event to take place in Soroti City, in Soroti Municipality, Soroti Districts in the Eastern part of the country from November 26th t0 29th.
The event is organised by the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development in partnership with the Iteso Cultural Union(ICU).
The Minister of Gender, Betty Amongi described the festival as an annual social extravaganza and cultural festival that brings together various Ateker-speaking communities spanning across diverse ethnic groups from Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and is coming to Uganda for the first time.
She said they expect Heads of State from Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and Ethiopia to grace the event with their presence at the invitation of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who will be the Chief guest.
The event will also be attended by Kings and Chiefs from Uganda and across Africa including the Zulu King as well as delegations from Tukiye (Turkey), Russia and Cuba.
“This festival serves as a vibrant testament to the reunification of the communities’ decades after their dispersal and separation. These communities share linguistic and cultural ties, and the festival aims to celebrate and strengthen these bonds,” he noted.
She noted that members of Ateker Communities include the Nyangatomo of Ethiopia; Topotha, Bari & Torit of South Sudan; Iteso, Turkana & Masai of Kenya; Iteso, Karimojong, Jie, Dodoth, Kumam, Langi & Kakwa of Uganda and, the Masai of Tanzania plus others closely-knit groups spread across the greater East African region.
The festival is to be celebrated under the theme: “Celebrating Shared Heritage, Forging a Path Towards Peace, Prosperity, and Cultural Renaissance.”
The overall objective of the Ateker re-union festival is to promote and foster regional integration for social economic transformation.
The key activities of the Ateker Re-union Festival will include Cultural performance which will include traditional music, dance and drama, storytelling, highlighting the unique cultural expressions of the Ateker communities and beyond; and the exhibition of traditional crafts, attire, literature, foods and medicine for the Ateker People. This platform is envisaged to display different cultural and other products/works that entail, underlie or manifest the spirit of African Renaissance.
The event will also include traditional games and football under the concept of the Ateker Cup of Nations, for the promotion of physical fitness and cultural preservation; and tree planting Initiatives as i is widely appreciated that climate change remains a big obstacle to Africa’s development as African economies are predominantly dependent on climate sensitive sector like agriculture.
Amongi explained that the tree planting initiative will be one of the major greening efforts focusing on the indigenous trees species, aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and economic empowerment to the community.
The event also expected to have workshops, panel discussions, and conferences on the selected topics organized for different target groups drawn from the Ateker community and other stakeholders to engage on challenges impeding the Ateker people from embracing African renaissance, highlighting the role of cultural leaders in strengthening the cultural communities for socio-economic transformation.
Amongi said the festival is to conclude with issuance of a communique on commitments for strengthening unity and promoting regional development.
“I Invite members of the Ateker Community and indeed all Ugandans to turn up in large numbers to welcome our guests,” she added.
