Alhaji Juldeh Sowe Calls for Promotion of Culture at International Cultural Festival

By Sulaiman Jalloh

Alhaj Juldeh Sowe, President of Tabital Pulaaku International Sierra Leone chapter and special envoy on trade and investment at the Office of the President of Sierra Leone, has called on Gambians to promote culture as a means of embracing peace and unity among citizens and residents of the country and beyond.

Delivering his keynote address at the 11th edition of the International Fuble Cultural Festival, organized by Fulbe Africa in Banjul, the Gambia, on Saturday, January 25, 2025, under the theme “Traditional Food Systems as Related to Climate Change”, Juldeh Sowe emphasized the importance of culture in promoting peace and unity in the Gambia, Africa and the world at lager, pointing out that, the traditional food systems have long been the backbone for livelihoods, offering a substance of grounding ancestral practices and that climate change has threatened these honored practices something he said affect crops growth, pastures that their livestock depend on and overall health of the land.

“As Fulbe people, we have always been closely tied to the land. We are farmers, herders, and stewards of the environment with deep knowledge passed down through generations. Our connection to the earth has been central to our culture and survival” he underscored.

According to Alhaji Juldeh Sowe, agriculture is one of their main focuses, noting they recognize it as their lifeblood in their communities, saying they are empowering people with tools, knowledge, and techniques to adapt to the realities of climate change while recognizing the importance of youth in the transformation.

Sowe alluded that the cultural festival was crucial to connecting Africans around the World, and it would help to build bridges of cooperation and collaboration to ensure the values of peace and unity are enhanced. He added that cultural education is key to their journey, saying through cultural education, the knowledge that will allow food systems will be passed, and it will also allow food systems to evolve by preserving their heritage and integrating it with modern knowledge, something he said will remain at the forefront of environmental and agricultural sustainability.

Moreover, he said the theme of the event reminds the attendees that traditions are not static but living, evolving systems that must be adapted. “Our traditional food systems are an integral part of our identity and heritage, and we must work together to ensure that they continue to thrive in the face of climate change,” Tabital Pulaaku President urged.

The festival creates a platform where people celebrate the culture, heritage, and collective resilience of the Fullah people around the world.