By DALCY LULUA in Popondetta
YOUNG people have been urged to embrace modern technology while preserving Oro’s traditional music, dance, art and cultural identity.
The call was made during the 4th Popondetta Art and Music Festival, where local leaders challenged youths to become custodians of the province’s rich cultural heritage.
The Chief Executive Officer of Popondetta District told young people that modern influences such as social media, TikTok, artificial intelligence, overseas music and changing lifestyles were part of a changing world.
However, he warned them not to allow those influences to replace their own culture.
“Do not forget your own talent and music, do not forget your own dance, do not forget your own creativity and art,” he said.
“When you know who you are, nobody can tell you who you are not.”
He said young artists participating in the festival were not simply entertainers but leaders and teachers capable of influencing the next generation.
“When a child in the village sees you dance, they learn pride. When a tourist hears you sing, they learn respect for Oro,” he said.
The district chief executive also acknowledged the important role of Oro women in preserving culture, describing mothers as the “keepers of culture and art”.
He said women play a central role in passing traditional songs, food, clothing, arts and other cultural practices to children.
The festival also highlighted growing challenges facing traditional arts and music in Oro.
These include young people forgetting traditional songs, difficulty accessing traditional materials for painting and carving, limited opportunities for artists to sell their work, and the impact of drugs and alcohol on young people’s talents.
The CEO called on parents to teach their children at least one traditional song, schools to include arts and culture in their programmes and invite elders to teach, and artists to mentor young performers.
He also urged businesses to support local artists by
sponsoring them and buying locally produced cultural products.
The wider community was encouraged to respect traditional creative works and seek permission before reproducing or copying them, particularly through artificial intelligence technologies.
The CEO said Oro’s cultural diversity should be viewed as a strength and a source of unity.
He said cultural festivals could help bridge divisions between tribes, clans and generations, particularly at a time when social media hate and other social pressures are affecting communities.
“We share the same sun, same ocean, same rivers, same forests and the same art and music,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tony Manuda, Deputy Provincial Administrator for LLG Services, said the festival was an opportunity for Oro to celebrate its identity through arts, music and storytelling.
“Today we gather not just to open an event, but to open our hearts to what makes Oro Province come alive: our arts, our music, our stories,” Manuda said.
He encouraged young people to see themselves in the artists performing on stage and believe they too could become creators.
“‘I can do that too.’ Feel encouraged to create. That is what will inspire the next generation of kids watching today,” he said.
Manuda said the festival should be a commitment to investing in local creatives, providing children with opportunities to perform and using culture as a bridge between communities and generations. The 4th Popondetta Art and Music Festival is therefore serving not only as a celebration of Oro’s artistic talent but also as a platform to encourage young people to protect and carry their cultural identity into the future.