By Enatu Steven
The Kumam Cultural Heritage has taken center stage in Uganda’s celebrations ahead of Pan African Liberation Day, captivating the nation with a majestic display of culture and unity. Under the leadership of His Royal Highness Won Ateker Raphael Otaya, the Kumam Kingdom brought Entebbe International Airport to a standstill as it hosted a grand reception for esteemed royal dignitaries arriving for the continental commemoration set for Sunday, 25th May 2025. The air was thick with cultural pride as traditional Kumam dances, regal pageantry, and ancestral rhythm welcomed the guests with dignity and warmth.
This year’s African Liberation Day, organized by the Pan African Movement Uganda National Chapter led by Chairman Njima Ben Bob Bolt, will unfold at Kololo Airstrip in Kampala. Yet the symbolic heart of the celebration beats the strongest in the East where the Kumam people have emerged as custodians of the event’s cultural soul.
The gathering portrays the rising prominence of the Kumam Cultural Heritage in regional diplomacy and pan-African solidarity.
Leading the international delegation is His Royal Highness Paul Jonn Eganda, President of the AIDO Network, accompanied by Queen Grace Eganda. Their arrival alongside His Highness Won Ateker Raphael Otaya reflects a powerful alliance between African traditional leadership and global cultural movements aimed at revitalizing indigenous institutions and heritage.
Among the honored guests is His Royal Highness Dr. Alhaji Bashir of Yobe State, Nigeria, joined by the Emir of Machina, Bukar Manchinama. Their presence reaffirms the enduring strength of West African royal dynasties and their commitment to cross-border cultural unity. It also reflects the increasing recognition of traditional rulers as agents of Pan-African dialogue and development.
His Royal Majesty Dr. Makorani O. Mungase IV of the Pokomo Royal Nations in Kenya, along with dignitaries from the Caribbean and Europe, including Dr. Hillary Brown, Queen Achom Asianut II of the CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Angela Chan, and Dr. Neculai Emanoil Vintila, bring an international dimension to the event.
Their participation reinforces the call for the African diaspora to re-engage with the continent’s cultural resurgence and liberation legacy.
The Pan African Movement’s theme this year centers on dismantling borders—both mental and physical—that have historically divided African peoples. With the Kumam Kingdom at the ceremonial forefront, the message is clear: unity rooted in heritage can drive the continent forward. The assembly of over a dozen royal dignitaries exemplifies this spirit of shared ancestry and collective purpose.
Uganda’s own traditional leadership, represented by eight royal leaders, has stood in solidarity with the international guests. As the chief host, His Royal Highness Won Ateker Raphael Otaya exemplifies the bridge between cultural preservation and continental diplomacy, reinforcing the role of indigenous leadership in shaping modern Africa.
In his brief address at the airport, His Hignes thanked president Yoweri Museveni for reinstating the cultural institutions in Uganda after they were abolished. He said the cultural institutions are at the center for preserving the African traditional norms and ensuring the positive norms are passed from generation to generation.
Following the national event in Kampala, the royal delegation will journey east to Soroti District, where His Highness Otaya will receive them at his ancestral home in Katine Sub-county. This final act of cultural hospitality marks not just the end of the official program, but the beginning of renewed cultural ties and future opportunities inspired by unity, identity, and royal kinship. It should. It should be remembered that this is the first of its kind since Kumam became an autonomous cultural institution from Iteso after the election of Won Ateker on the 7th of July 2022 and his official enthronement 2023 .