Story by Osuta Yusuf.
Arua City.
📸: Poster designed to advertise the event.
Organizers under Barifa Leisure Park Arua City are warming up to usher the people of WestNile region into the new year 2025 with new style as they seek to hold mega Cultural Gala / Traditional dances to rejuvenate the ancient years of celebrating ceremonious big days like the New Year among others.

The two days historical celebration which will take place on Tuesday 31-12-2024 and Wednesday 1-January-2025 in Barifa forest, behind UNHCR regional office, is seeking to bring together elders / subjects from Lugbara tribe, Alur tribe and Madi tribe who will be Live on stage to perform the cultural music dances of their tribes.

While tracing back to how Lugbara people used to celebrate Big days and other ceremonious events in those years, an elder from Ayivu, Mr Banduni Willy decried the dress code of the young people of these days and discos which have partly contributed to killing of our cultural values and breeding immorality.
Mr Willy who appealed for perseverance of Cultural values, thanked the organizers for thinking about our cultures.

Mr Dan Gandu commonly known as Dania, an elder from Maracha, blamed poor parenting as the main cause of many unruly young people whose behaviors turn celebration of such big days or ceremonious occasions into chaotic scenes for physical fight.

He rallied the general public to come in big numbers on Tuesday 31-12-2024 and also on 1-January-2025 so that they can come to witness how these tribes used to enjoy and celebrate occasional events.

Organizer of the event, Mr Adinabo Larry Ben explained that, they have witnessed the cultural norms and values of our tribes in WestNile region going down due to the absence of such important events.

He assured the general public about their security and safety of their properties at the event as he mobilizes many people to come and be part of the history making in two days, starting from Tuesday 31-12-2024 to Wednesday 1-January-2025.

In what seems to be very rare in the 21st Century, with entrance fees of just 5000 Shs for Ordinary, 20,000 Shs for VIP and 100,000 Shs for a group on one table, the people of Arua City and WestNile region are going to experience a marvelous celebration with cultural dances from different tribes in WestNile region, Bull Roasting, Fireworks, viewing of wild animals and many other rare activities scheduled to take place in the two days event.