By Scopas Bethuel
His Majesty Atoroba Peni Rikito, the King of the Azande Kingdom, has called on South Sudanese communities to return to their cultural roots and traditions. Speaking during the opening of the Pojulu Cultural Festival at Rock City, the monarch emphasized the importance of cultural identity and peace.
King Atoroba attributed the erosion of South Sudanese cultural values to colonialism and Arab influence, but said the time has come for communities to reclaim their heritage.
“It is time for the people of South Sudan to recognize where God created them—as human beings with identity,” he said. “Your name, your language, your food—these are the things that bind you to your culture.” Calling for the shunning of European and Arab names.
The Azande Kingdom was among several invited to this year’s Pojulu Cultural Festival, which began in 2024. Other participating groups include the Chollo Kingdom, the Nuer, the Nuba, the Bari, the Mundari, and the Otuho.
During his speech, King Atoroba highlighted peace as the first of four foundational pillars of the Azande Kingdom. Though he did not mention the other three, he urged all attendees—especially Pojulu chiefs and youth—to carry the message of peace back to their communities.
“There should be peace in Equatoria, peace in Bahr el Ghazal, and peace in Upper Nile,” he declared.
He also called on the government and international organizations to support cultural initiatives. “I urge our government to empower the Ministry of Culture to sustain such cultural events. And UNESCO—what are they doing here in South Sudan? Their role is to help us preserve and celebrate our good cultures,” he said. “A people without culture are not truly a people. A country without culture is not a country.”
King Atoroba praised the festival’s organizers for bringing together diverse communities, noting that financial investment had played a key role in its success.
Joining the call for peace, Juba County Commissioner Emmanuel Tete Ezbon encouraged all citizens to embrace unity. “Tell your people to join the path of peace, so that next year, we can all celebrate this cultural festival together,” he said.
The Pojulu Cultural Festival was founded last year by Engineer Lemi Stephen James, also known as Lomora Lo James Losuk. It was created to unite the Pojulu people and preserve their cultural heritage. Now an annual event, this year’s celebration is taking place in Yei, as well as in refugee camps in Uganda and Kenya.
Running through Monday, May 12, the three-day festival under the theme “Friendship among communities can Unite South Sudanese” brings together Pojulu communities from Lainya, Wonduruba, Pisak in Yei, and Tijor Juba County. It features traditional artifacts, modern music, and comedic performances, celebrating the heritage of the Pojulu—one of the Nilohamitic ethnic groups within the broader Karo community, which includes the Bari, Kuku, Nyangbara, Kakwa, and Mundari.