South Sudan asserts upholding cultural values
January 11, 2012 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s government on Wednesday called upon its citizens to preserve and uphold cultural values, asserting that cultural heritage plays a great role in identity, nationality and citizenship in the country which became independent in July 2011.
“Your culture defines your identity. It is the culture which tells other people your real identity. It is, therefore, important that our people preserve their cultures wherever one maybe, Ariec Mayar Ariec, a member of Warrap State Legislative Assembly said.
The member of the ruling South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) told Sudan Tribune in an interview on Wednesday that he would like “our people take a closer look at the beauty of the South Sudan cultures and dress code”.
Cirino Hiteng Ofuho, minister of Culture, Youth and sports in an interview with reporters in August said his ministry has a vision to transform the country into culturally harmonious and vibrant society where ethnic and cultural diversity of her people is source of strength, unity and pride.
Minister Ofuho added that his ministry was work to pioneer development and empowerment of the youth of the world newest and poorest and undeveloped country in the 21 century, through provision of education and lifelong skills and safeguard their physical, moral and intellectual wellbeing and to ensure their effective patriotic participation in the affairs of the country.
Ariec asserted that beauty of culture often featured in dress code is quite obvious and it has an inherent quality with a linkage to our reach culture and tradition. But the former Lakes State governor said it’s common these days to see youths, especially young beautiful school going aged dressed in short skirts exposing their body.
He said “I acknowledge the fact that such actions are done in the name of fashion and modernity; hence having little regards for our deeply rooted cherished traditional norms and values. It is disgusting for the people of descends to turn against our deep rooted traditional norms and values in favor of foreign cultures. Our beloved country is perceived to be the richest of all the countries in the world in terms of mineral resources, but unfortunately turns to be the poorest of the poor in terms of human and capital developments.
” We have seen, heard and read historical records relating to use of cloths, constituting a main source of dressing for our forbearers in the primitive time, where in people used tree leaves, animal skin and other flat light products just to cover themselves up from effects of environmental hazards. The primitive and stone aged people were not privileged to have a well dress code as it’s the case in our present day generation”, he observed.
The lawmaker said Science and technology has made human life on earth much easier now than what was tenable in the past that needs people to take stock of the dress code against its current abuse, as rampantly seen in our streets and public places, which runs contrary to the spirit and teachings of all religious believes, especially Islam which he said makes a strong recommendation for women to cover their body with the exception of few areas of the body, for instance.
“It is rather unfortunate to see our youths delighted in exposing their bodies in public places without having regards to who may be on the watch even their parents and relatives. Such an act has amounted to lack of decency and corruption of the public moral and a disregard to our beautiful dressing culture.
Parents have to act now than later by instilling desire and recommended virtues in their children at a tender age, instead of leaving them to grow on their own material desires, which sift our collective and individual desires for peace, progress and prosperity to a more trouble world.
We must learn to be ambassadors of peace through acts and actions and properly bring up children, as a key element of that peace making process. We must be ready to embrace high moral decency, coated in love, respect, confidence and self value through self awareness about the purpose of our unique creation with deeper sense of responsibility”, he emphasized
He said Effective use of clothing has comparative advantage for the people of the globe has made life on earth worth living and memorable especially for those engaged in the world of fashion and clothing; such as actors, musicians, celebrities, world leaders compose of both political and religious leaders, academics among others.
“We have seen and heard about lives of people renowned for dressing well and use of such beautiful dresses to have lasting impression on the minds of their audience, friends and others who came in contact with them. This brought to mind common phrases frequently heard dress to impress, dress to succeed, dress to work, dress to bed, dress for clubbing among others”, he observed
Many argues that beautiful dresses have made acting impressive and an enviable industry, which has become lucrative. Though the South Sudan fashion and beauty industry is at its tender age, it’s not conceivable in the absence of a well dress code, in line with our traditional, cultural norms and values.
Some government officials argued that beauty pageants and other fashion programmes must be examined so as to have a comprehensive understanding of the use of dress code in line with the subject at hand.
“It would be of interest to note the impression and appreciation that comes to your mind when you see a well dressed handsome man or beautiful woman in traditional attire with everything well done by an experienced tailor. You know what I mean, the traditional attire covering the whole body with loose ends visible in the air accompanied by a slow-paced majestic walk”, he explained while offering smiles.
(ST)