Rhumba Cultural Center – Home of Arts and Voice of Heritage

Introduction

The Rhumba Cultural Center, established October 18, 2024 in Juba, South Sudan, arose to fill a critical cultural gap and foster sustainable engagement within a society shaped by conflict, migration, and underrepresentation. It is a private, nonprofit, national cooperative institution, legally registered (Reg. No. BNR1024-K9FKRP) and guided by a vision of cultural vibrance, dialogue, and transformative expression.

“Rhumba” — rooted globally in music and locally in the Shilluk “Rum” (meeting) + “Ba” (place), means “a gathering place”: a hub for creativity, heritage, and belonging.

Founder: Rongo Thabo Yor Deng

Rongo Thabo Yor Deng is a South Sudanese social activist, researcher, and multifaceted artist recognized for his work in cultural relations and social cohesion. He is an accomplished director, producer, actor, and drama critic.

Holding a Bachelor's degree in Drama from the University of Juba, he currently pursues a Master's degree in Conflict Resolution. As the Executive Director of the Rhumba Cultural Center based in Juba, Rongo actively promotes arts and culture to strengthen community ties.

About Rhumba Cultural Center

Legal Status: Non-profit, non-political, cooperative cultural institution registered with the National Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Culture, Heritage, and National Museums.
Location: Victory Primary and Secondary School Campus, Gurei Gate, Juba, South Sudan
Long-term vision: Expansion across all South Sudanese states, becoming a national beacon for cultural diversity, unity, and peacebuilding.

Mission: To empower communities by reconnecting them to heritage, advancing training, supporting talents, and using arts for development, peace, and awareness.
Target Groups: Women, youth, children, professionals, artisans, and all South Sudanese communities.

Flagship Programs & Projects

Arts & crafts training workshops
Cultural exhibitions & showcases
Community theater & documentaries
Cultural weeks, festivals, and music events
Art competitions & recognition awards
Awareness sessions & dialogues
Technical/artistic consultancy services
Heritage surveys & documentation
Community empowerment initiatives

More: Special Digital & Cultural Initiatives

Craft Memory Program: Live documentation & mapping of artisans, with video, audio stories, and a “Support My Craft” market form.
Cultural Futures Lab: Virtual learning for youth turning folktales into animation, podcasts, and games.
Rhumba Faces Platform: Interactive gallery honoring local unsung heroes.
Rhumba Time Machine: Explore community traditions by year—attire, music, festivals, beliefs, oral stories.
Banned Voices Library: Archive of culturally censored works with context and interpretation.
Message to the Future: Open call for recorded generational letters to be unsealed in 10 years.
Colors of the South: Digital coloring art for children inspired by South Sudanese heritage.
Rhumba Mystery Box: Monthly digital cultural experience for subscribers.
Rhumba On the Road: Live map of field teams, workshops, and rural storytelling events.
Stories in the Stars: Indigenous astronomy connecting seasonal sky stories and tradition.

Creative Media

Voice Magazine: Essays, interviews, and cultural opinion columns
Podcast Series: Gender, peace, creativity, and climate
Oral History Project: Audio-visual archiving of community memory
Rhumba Theater: Live and interactive shows

Educational & Social Empowerment

Lifelong learning programs for all ages
Visual/audio learning labs
Local language literacy initiatives
Inclusive access for people with disabilities
Partnerships with schools, universities, cultural, and academic institutions

Dai Lala – The Cultural Market

Permanent marketplace for traditional/handmade crafts
Artist branding, packaging, and product market access
Microeconomic empowerment for creatives & artisans
Art exhibitions and public craft displays

Vision, Values, Impact & Objectives

“Right beginnings, no matter how small, lead to healthy cultural accumulation and a conscious society that respects diversity.”

Strategic Directions

Promote inclusivity, advance education, scout talents, use culture for conflict resolution, support local content, foster respect and exchange between cultures.

Core Values

Humanity, artist welfare, participation, sustainability, empowerment, transparency, positive competition, social responsibility, cultural justice, national identity

Objectives

Provide broad cultural/social services
Enrich the scene with events and competitions
Empower youth and communities economically/artistically
Collaborate locally and globally
Prepare talents for national/global forums
Provide consultancy in music, arts, and literature

Areas of Activity

Literature, poetry, drama, music
Visual & contemporary arts
Handicrafts & folk culture
Cultural documentation
Community media and educational programs
Public entertainment, recreation, economic empowerment

Organizational Structure, Funding & Provisions

Leadership

Executive Director; Center Manager; Secretaries for Finance, Media, Social & Public Relations
Departments: Programs, Training, Library/Documentation, Planning & Monitoring, Research/Studies.

Funding Sources

1. Membership fees
2. Donations and grants
3. Revenue from events, training, and services

General Provisions

Open to local, regional, international orgs supporting culture/intellectual causes
Representation restricted to Board & Secretariat
Partnership only with legal/cultural/academic entities by written agreement
Public statements come from official leadership only
No use of name/logo without written consent

Contact & Visit

Address: Gurei – Juba, inside Victory Primary & Secondary School

Phone: +211 922 557 718 / +211 983 011 118

WhatsApp: +211 912 592 918

Email: inforhumba@gmail.com

Website: rhumba.org

Social: Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram

Bank: Ivory Bank – South Sudan

Opening Hours: Mon–Fri 3:20pm–10:00pm, Sat–Sun 9:00am–10:00pm

Get Involved & Support

Ways to participate:

Volunteer/intern at the center
Register as a performing artist
Partner as school/NGO/corporate
Mentor or train youth
Join leadership/capacity programs
Donate (bank, phone, WhatsApp)
Become a member or student/artist beneficiary
Subscribe to our mailing list

Membership: Open to anyone passionate for culture, as Active, Contributing, Honorary Member, Collaborator, or Volunteer.

Global Reach: Not in South Sudan? We welcome global partners in cultural exchange, production & training. Let’s promote peace, knowledge, and diversity — together!