A Kakamega County based dancing
group Matende Isukuti Youth Group is headed to USA to attend Smithson Folk life
Festival.
This year’s festival will take
place from the 24th June to 7thJuly 2014 at the National Mall in
Washington DC.
Smithson Folk Life Festival
celebrates several cultures and lives of people all over the world through
music, crafts, food, dances, interactive discussions and storytelling.
Kakamega county governor Wycliffe
Oparanya asked the dancers to showcase the cou
nty’s diversity and culture
through their performance.
He said the group participation
in the festivals has provided a platform for the county to market the county as
a cultural heritage and a tourist destination to the outside world.
“To the youth who are travelling
to the USA, remember that you are carrying the image of Kakamega County. You
will represent all the citizens of this great county. Maintain very high
discipline, market our culture, heritage and county to others and respect
everyone,” said Oparanya.
He urged the youths to identify
their talents and utilize it to earn a living instead of waiting for white
collar jobs that have become scarce in the country.
“Most of our youth still depend
on finishing school and waiting to be employed in an office. Its time you
identify your capabilities and utilize them. The world of today has provided
you with opportunities to develop yourself,” he said.
The governor was speaking during
the flag handing over ceremony held in his office yesterday.
“The trip has coasted the county
government sh7.69 million. Of these funds, sh5.28 million will go to the group
trip’s cost of return air ticket, travel insurance, accommodation, meals and
local transport in the USA for 16 days,” said Oparanya.
The county executive member for
Kakamega County government Executive member for Labour, Social services,
Culture, Youth and sports Jamin Shitsukane observed that the festivals is an
opportunity for the youths to showcase their talent and promised that the
county will help in nurturing and their talents.
He said Isukuti dancing is a
county culture and if well marketed, it will attract tourists and hence improve
economic development of the county.
“Culture is one of the most
tourist attractions all over the world. Let’s us use this opportunity to market
our culture to the world. We need to make Isukuti our county cultural trademark
and if we can execute this opportunity well, I am sure we will benefit from the
festival,” said Shitsukane.
The dancing group chairman
Johnstone Asutsi said they will use the opportunity to not only market the
county but the country at large by giving a strong and performance.
“We will become the county
ambassadors during the time we will be attending the festival. We promise to
work hard, execute our moves well and showcase the Isukuti to the entire world.
We are the representatives of our Isukuti culture,” said a beaming Asutsi.
The 10 members youth group will
leave be travelling to USA ON 22nd June and they will be accompanied
by the county executive minister for Labour,
Social services, Culture, Youth and sports Jamin Shitsukane.
No comments:
Post a Comment