Dynamq’s Ruka festival set for Torit next year

The US-based South Sudanese Reggae-dancehall artist Kennedy Ongele Lorya, aka Dynamq on Sunday met a huge reception at his uncle’s Lologo residence in the capital Juba.

Fans and his family as well as community members from his ancestral village Ilieu, the entire Lotuko community and his South Sudanese fans gathered to welcome him. 

The program started with a Lotuko traditional dance, a community he hails from in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State. 

Speaking to the crowd, Dynamq said next year’s Ruka Festival will be in Torit Town Eastern Equatoria.

“I came for this Ruka festival. We had planned to take the Ruka festival to Torit, but I was not around during the time, so next year we are taking the Ruka Festival to Torit,” he said.

The emotionally charged dancehall artist said he would go to the United States soon, but promised to come back to the country with other diaspora South Sudanese artists in his next coming.

“I am a very very proud South Sudanese. You know, physically I might be out there but my heart is always here in South Sudan. I know the connection we have with the diaspora and here, that connection is always in my heart. I want to thank everybody for coming here and I want to promise you that I’m gonna come back with more South Sudanese to build our country,” Dynamq said.

Dynamq also urged communities in South Sudan to prioritize education for all children in the country.

“Our kids have to go to school, education is the key. We have to take care of ourselves because if we don’t take care of ourselves nobody is going to take care of us. I am very emotional and I am very very happy to be here,” he said.