The Deputy City Clerk Lillian Grace Ocari has urged Lango cultural leaders to designate special attire for boys and girls in a bid to bolster identification processes within the community of lango and beyound. The call aims to foster a stronger sense of cultural identity among the Lango people, enhancing community cohesion.
This comes during the launch of the third edition of Miss Lango, a prominent beauty pageant with a significant emphasis on cultural heritage and this year`s theme focuses on environmental awareness and combating climate change under the theme “Harnessing Lango Culture to Promote Climate Change.”
Initiated in 2022, the pageant has seen the crowning of queens such as Miss Deborah Okucu Elizabeth as the first Queen and Miss Akot Gillian Tracy who is the reigning Queen for the second edition, with the search for the next queen commencing with the launch on Monday, February 26th.
CEO Shakila Among highlighted the primary objective of the Miss Lango Beauty Pageant, which is to foster unity within the Lango community while preserving its cultural heritage and traditions. She noted that cultural leaders have also expressed support for the pegeant, providing both endorsement and technical guidance.
Miss Lango Queens 2023/24
Furthermore, the pageant underscores the importance of parental involvement in educating children about cultural practices and values. Criteria for queen selection include being unmarried, educated to at least senior four level, and belonging to the Langi tribe, with the expectation that the queen will serve as a cultural ambassador and lead grassroots mobilization efforts.
In addition to cultural preservation, the Miss Lango third edition prioritizes climate change advocacy, promoting traditional farming methods to ensure sustainability and alleviate poverty and famine. The contest invites girls aged 18 to 26 to participate, highlighting the pivotal role of youth in promoting Lango culture. Candidates are also required to refrain from having tattoos to align with community expectations.
Rita Alobo, Miss Heritage 2023/24, highlighted the pageant’s engagement with schools and institutions across the Lango sub-region, providing career guidance and cultural showcases to empower young girls.
Deputy City Clerk Lillian Ocari commended the chosen theme of the pageant, emphasizing the urgent need to address climate change. She stressed the role of families in advocating for environmental preservation and urged queens to equip themselves with knowledge on environmental issues for effective advocacy.
As preparations for the contest intensify, Deputy Mayor Rebecca Alwedo emphasized the alignment of this year’s theme with the 17 Sustainable Development as the theme tackles Goal number 13 which calls for Urgent action to combat climate change.
Alwedo is calling for widespread support for environmental preservation activities associated with the Miss Lango campaign.
The Miss Lango contest serves as a platform to reinforce the importance of cultural and environmental heritage, aiming to instill a sense of responsibility and pride within the community as it progresses towards third editions grand finale in July.
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