Great & Joyful: Over 100 Okii Raki Okwer ocobo Clan members return to Arak Okwer Ocobo In Ogur

Great & Joyful: Over 100 Okii Raki Okwer ocobo Clan members return to Arak Okwer Ocobo In Ogur 

LIRA — More than 100 members of the Okii Araki Okwer ocobo clan have returned to the clan of Arak Okwer Ocobo, in a reunion that elders and cultural leaders say could help strengthen unity and preserve the clan’s heritage.

The members were welcomed by Awitong (Clan Chief) Of Arak Okwer Ocobo, Simon Odepe during a gathering at Aler in Ogur Sub-county, Lira District, where leaders called for reconciliation and renewed cooperation among clan members.

The reunion comes after a week to planned installation of the clan chief.

For the Lango, the clan, or Tekere, remains an important institution for maintaining ancestry, cultural identity, family relations and traditional values.

Welcoming the returning members, Awitong Odepe said the clan leadership was ready to work with them as they re-established their links with the cultural institution.

“Our doors have always been open, and today, we are finally made whole again,” Mr Odepe said.

He urged members to leave past disagreements behind and use dialogue to address differences.

“We welcome our brothers and sisters back home with open arms and clean hearts,” he said, adding that reconciliation should be regarded as a way of strengthening the community.

The chief also called on members to focus on issues that affect the future of the clan, particularly the participation of young people and the preservation of cultural values.

Tracing ancestral roots.

Mr George Okello, the Minister of Sport in Arak Okwer ocobo, welcomed the returning members and commended them for reconnecting with their ancestral roots.

He said his office would coordinate with the new members to facilitate their participation in clan activities.

Mr Okello said the return presented an opportunity for the clan to broaden participation in its cultural programmes and strengthen relationships among its members.

Speaking on behalf of the returning members, Mr Santo Ogwang thanked the clan leadership for the reception and said the group was committed to rebuilding its relationship with the clan.

He said their return was driven by the desire to reconnect with their heritage and contribute to the development of the cultural institution.

Another member, Mr Japer Odong, commended Awitong Odepe for reaching out to members who had been away from the clan fold.

Mr Odong encouraged the clan leadership to continue engaging members through dialogue and outreach.

The gathering concluded with traditional blessings from elders, who prayed for peace, unity and prosperity among clan members.

The leaders said the next challenge would be to translate the reunion into sustained participation in clan affairs and initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of members.

The event also highlighted the continuing role of traditional institutions in preserving cultural identity at a time when younger generations are increasingly exposed to social and cultural influences beyond their communities.

For Arak Okwer ocobo, the return of the members provides an opportunity to rebuild relationships while passing the clan's history and traditions to future generations.