Ministry of Culture, Museums and National Heritage

.𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐑𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐳𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝐉𝐔𝐁𝐀, 𝟑 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 —

The Hon. Minister of Culture, Museums and National Heritage, Sarah Nyanath Elijah Yong, today received a high-level delegation from the SunRays Foundation, accompanied by royalty from the Azande Kingdom, during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Culture, Museums and National Heritage.

The delegation was led by Mr. Paiyo Charles, Country Director of the SunRays Foundation, and included Mr. Simon Mikinipare, the Foundation’s Executive Director, and Prince Mark Zaza of the Azande Kingdom.

Discussions focused on strategic initiatives to promote, preserve, and protect local culture, with particular emphasis on youth engagement and cultural peacebuilding.

The delegation underscored the important role young people play as custodians and implementers of cultural heritage, and outlined plans to work closely with local communities to foster peace through cultural expression and dialogue.

The Minister welcomed the delegation and commended both the SunRays Foundation and the Azande Kingdom for their proactive efforts.

The Ministry said it remains ready to explore collaborative approaches that empower communities, safeguard heritage sites, and use culture as a tool for national unity and peace at the grassroots level.

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐔 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠.

𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐚, 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 .

The Minister of Culture Museums, National Heritage, Hon Sarah Nyanath Elijah Yong, held a high-level strategic meeting with the European Union Ambassador to South Sudan, Ambassador Pelle Enarsson , to discuss a partnership aimed at preserving South Sudan’s diverse cultural identity, rebuilding historical infrastructure, and strengthening the role of culture in national development.

During the meeting, the Ministry outlined three key priorities that guide its current agenda and the proposed partnership with the European Union.

These include institutional transformation and capacity building, through strengthening the Ministry’s legal, technical, and institutional capabilities so it can carry out its national mandate more effectively.

The two sides also discussed heritage preservation and repatriation, given the urgent need to protect and document South Sudan’s cultural and historical heritage, as well as preparations for the return of historical artefacts and national archives currently held abroad.

The talks further addressed the role of culture in peacebuilding and sustainable development, with emphasis on using cultural heritage as a tool for national reconciliation, climate resilience, economic growth, and the empowerment of women and youth.

The discussions also opened the way for targeted technical and investment cooperation focused on establishing a national museum and archive, revitalising cultural economies through environmentally friendly creative industries, and rehabilitating national preservation and archiving systems, traditional knowledge networks, and research capacities.

Subject: Notice of 118-Day Reflection and Vision Meeting

Dear All Staff of the Directorate of Culture and Heritage Management,

Please be informed that tomorrow, the Honorable Minister has called upon all Directors General, Directors, Heads of Departments, and staff members to attend the 118-Day Reflection and Vision Meeting.

Time: 10:00 AM
Venue: Ministry Meeting Hall, Juba

All staff members are kindly requested to inform their colleagues and ensure attendance without fail.

Thank you.

Prof. Deng Nhial Chioh
Acting Director General for Culture and Heritage Management.

𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐍𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐧𝐠
𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞
𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝟏𝟔 𝐌𝐚𝐲 — 𝐒𝐏𝐋𝐀 𝐃𝐚𝐲.

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐧. 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐍𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐧𝐠
𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞
𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝟏𝟔𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐀𝐘 – 𝐒𝐏𝐋𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐘.

Minister Nyanath Graces Pojulu Cultural Festival 2026 in Juba.

JUBA, May 8, 2026 —

The Minister of Culture, Museums and National Heritage, Hon. Sarah Nyanath Elijah Yong, on Friday attended the colorful Pojulu Cultural Festival 2026 held at Rock City Playground in Juba.

The festival featured traditional Pojulu dances, cultural performances, and heritage exhibitions, attracting large crowds from across the capital to celebrate South Sudan’s cultural diversity and identity.

The annual celebration brought together cultural groups, youth, elders, and residents in a display of unity and pride in South Sudan’s rich traditions.

𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐚, 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧 – 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐎𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐊𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐢’𝐬 𝐉𝐚𝐳𝐳 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩.

The Minister of Culture, Museums, and National Heritage, Hon. Sarah Nyanath Elijah, today met in her office with a delegation from the Oraba Foundation Dance Group, alongside the jazz group led by artist Emmanuel Kembi.

The meeting discussed several key issues affecting cultural groups across the country.
The minister revealed that she had reviewed the groups’ upcoming participation in the India-Africa Festival Conclave, scheduled to take place on the 23rd of this month in New Delhi, India.

She urged the groups to regularize their status by registering with the ministry’s cultural entities registry, enabling them to access opportunities offered through ministry-organized festivals and cultural programs.

Hon. Sarah Nyanath Elijah emphasized the vital role cultural groups play in promoting peace, unity, and peaceful coexistence among communities across South Sudan.