South Sudan’s capital, Juba, hosted the Festival of Fashion and Arts for Peace to raise money and awareness of the plight of thousands of South Sudanese who have been affected by the country’s political crisis.
The world’s newest nation has been besieged by a political crisis, where at least 10,000 people have been killed since fierce fighting erupted in South Sudan in December 2013.
But organizers behind the August 2014 festival hoped to inspire South Sudanese to come together and showcase some of the country’s riches, including culture and fashion. In its second edition, the festival aimed to promote peace in South Sudan through artistic expression. The show featured dancing, singing, food and fashion. The event also provided a platform for artisans and artists to show and sell their work, showcasing jewelry and other fashion items made from local materials and designs.
Event founder and organizer Akuja Garang said she hopes the festival can help change perceptions of South Sudan and promote a positive image of the country.
“We know that there are things going on in South Sudan at the moment, the crises and so on,” she said. “We are not in denial of that; we are aware of that we are people here from all walks of life from all different ethnicities. We are not naive in any way — we talk and discuss these issues very seriously. These issues don’t need to divide us and create violence. You know we can have a debate without having to be violent to each other.”
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