By Staff Writer<\/p>\n
In the heart of Juba\u2019s Mangateen suburb in Central Equatoria state, a powerful scene unfolds as the #Hib Jeran cultural festival fills the streets with vibrant hopes, lively performances, and a shared spirit of togetherness.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n #Hib Jeran\u201d- an Arabic phrase meaning \u201cLove your neighbour\u201d has, over recent years, grown into a symbol of unity and resilience for the diverse communities within the settlement site in the locality.<\/p>\n On November 1, this year, Active Citizen South Sudan (ACSS) conducted its annual cultural festival in the Mangateen playground to bring communities together.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s festival themed \u201cLet’s Coexist for a Peaceful South Sudan,” advances the normal tradition, drawing over 3,000 participants to celebrate cultural heritage, bridge differences, and inspire hope for a peaceful, interconnected South Sudan.<\/p>\n \u201cWith this festival, we are on a path to embracing one another and working towards the welfare of our great country,\u201d Jok Gabriel shared his optimism in an interview.<\/p>\n The event reinforced messages against division and violence and served as a moving reminder of the strength found in unity.<\/p>\n Speaking at the occasion, Angelina Stephen Ban, Project Officer for the organization, highlighted the power of culture as a connector, bringing together people from different backgrounds to promote peaceful coexistence. The central theme of the festival also underscores the message that despite differences, South Sudanese people can unite for a common cause.<\/p>\n As performances dazzled and heartfelt messages echoed during the event then, the initiative also transformed the streets into a joyous tapestry of hopes, and locals accepting each other.<\/p>\n Ms. Ban called on the communities to embrace positive change, noting that such change was essential to achieve complete stability.<\/p>\n \u201cOur message is simple yet profound: let us rise above differences, reject the cycle of violence, and harmful traditions that pull us apart,\u201d she urged.<\/p>\n \u201cTogether, we can build a South Sudan rooted in unity, respect, and peace,\u201d Ban concluded.<\/p>\n The initiative was supported by the Norwegian People\u2019s Aid (NPA), which plays a significant role in fostering peace and harmony across the country.<\/p>\n Throughout the rendezvous, participants engaged in an array of activities, including dances, dramas, and musical performances that celebrated themes of peace and unity.<\/p>\n Madhol Lew, Mangateen\u2019s local Chief, encouraged all the South Sudanese to embrace harmony and promote intermarriages as a means of fostering peaceful coexistence.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the communities across the country deserve each other,\u201d he remarked, highlighting the importance of embracing diversity.<\/p>\n \u201cI encourage everyone to live in harmony and promote the culture of intermarriages for peaceful coexistence,\u201d the local chief added.<\/p>\n Infused with the rhythm of traditional music and the warmth of community spirit, the platform illuminated the path toward a more harmonious and inclusive future for all. These included shared experiences and cultural expressions while fostering connections among diverse groups.<\/p>\n The event not only celebrated South Sudan\u2019s rich cultural traditions but also served as a crucial reminder of the strength of unity and understanding in the face of adversity.<\/p>\n With each gathering, the festival reinforces the message that love and understanding can pave the way for a brighter tomorrow, transforming the social fabric of Juba City and beyond through the power of culture.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Staff Writer In the heart of Juba\u2019s Mangateen suburb in Central Equatoria state, a powerful scene unfolds as the #Hib Jeran cultural festival fills the streets with vibrant hopes, lively performances, and a shared spirit of togetherness. #Hib Jeran\u201d- an Arabic phrase meaning \u201cLove your neighbour\u201d has, over recent[Read More…]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":30558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[125,122,79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30557","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","category-nation-talk","category-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/A-cultural-group-perform-during-Hib-Jeran-cultural-festival-in-Mangateen.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30557","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30557"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30557\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30559,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30557\/revisions\/30559"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30557"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30557"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onecitizendaily.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30557"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u201cWe normally have the Hib Jeran cultural peace festival at the end of every year to promote peaceful coexistence among different communities. We use it as a platform for sharing our non-violent approaches,\u201d she explained
\nThe festival featured captivating performances from local cultural groups, including the #Lich Cultural Group and the #Koth Ke Dhueeng, a traditional Dinka group, showcasing the country\u2019s rich cultural heritage.<\/p>\n