UNESCO has commended the annual Mundari Cultural Festival for preserving culture and promoting unity.

Country Director Julius Banda expressed the sentiments as thousands gathered in Terekeka County, Central Equatoria State, on Saturday to celebrate the annual event mainly dedicated to promoting unity.

The UNESCO representative called on the South Sudanese communities, especially the Mundari, to ensure cultural values are passed down to the younger generations.

He also urged the Mundari to ensure their children are sent to school.

“As we congratulate you for promoting culture, let us make sure that we are transmitting it to the future generations by keeping the language, and teaching it to the children, and making sure that we keep the girls in school, and they finish their education,” he said.

“As we go forward, let use our identity and culture to promote peaceful co-existence among the 64 tribes that make up South Sudan,” he added.

The event, marked by vibrant traditional dances, also featured the neighboring communities such as the Bari of Juba County, the Nuer, the Acholi, the Cholo and Ugandans.

The function was graced by traditional Mundari leaders, alongside state and national government officials.

The organizing committee chairperson, John Bero Pitia, said the purpose of the festival was to foster unity between the Mundari and the neighboring communities who sometimes experienced conflicts.

“This event has brought the people of South Sudan together,” Pitia said.

“It has united individuals from all the Payams of Terekeka who came in love and peace.”

Pitia called on the Mundari youth to uphold the spirit of unity in order to guarantee lasting peace.

“I want to say to my community, the Mundari, that let us welcome and show love to our brothers who join us in the event. We want them to be together,” he stressed. Radio Tamazuj