Acholi Paramount Chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II together with Opolacen Marketing Consultants managing director Paul Mutanga on Thursday, 17, 2024 launched the 2024 Acholi Cultural Festival (ACF).
An annual activity of Ker Kwaro Acholi, the supreme institution fostering the continuity of the 57 Chiefdoms to diligently serve the people finally get it out of slumber.
Addressing the journalists at Acholi Inn Hotel, Gulu City, Rwot David Onen Acana II revealed internal challenges which he largely referred to as loopholes hit the festival off its feet in the preceding years.
He lumped the blame for the failed previous edition on some of the kingdom members who had been entrusted to take on the challenge but turned it upside down.
“Our people should expect a colorful event this year far beyond the previous editions” Acana said,
Adding that, this year's festival is intended to celebrate and promote Acholi Heritage for Socio-economic development.
He called on the youths to use this opportunity to showcase their leadership skills and the will power to do what is rightful things referring to proper use of land and other natural resources around them.
Paul Mutanga, the managing director of Opolacen Marketing Consultants in his remarks revealed that they decided to join hands with the kingdom in a bid to mobilize funds to bring back the glory of the past fest.
While the festival has been premiered at Kaunda ground, this year’s edition of the event will be hosted at Pece Stadium.
“We are looking at the safety and security of our people during the celebration especially those travel from outside the city Centre for the event” Said Paul
The event was last organized in 2019 before the COVID-19 outbreak and it now returns this year after 4 years.
According to Ker Kwaro Acholi, this year's celebration shall be class apart, since they have invited over 100 corporates to show their products and services, telecoms service providers, institutions, ministries developments and Agencies of Government, Multinationals and Non Governmental Organizations, international government organizations, industries ans business within Uganda and EAC region among others.
The festival will also showcase classical bwola royal dance from all corners of Acholi with real traditional attire, feather, jingles, small and big drums, royal leopard skins, horns and flutes. Classical Otole war dance, where elders use spears, shields to perform rare tactical moves, with sombre sound of drums provoking senses of war, leading to tears dropping! Malakwang, Akeyo, Ringo Mutwo, gweno I olel, lakotokoto, lakilikili, and boo cooked in six different ways shall be ready for culinary sampling.
Acholi Cultural Festival shall commence on December 12 up to 14, 2024 at Pece War Memorial Stadium.
