Sudanese musician’s grateful voice reaches to White House
January 5, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – Sudanese-born musician Eliz Chol Lam reached the White House with a song of thanks when visiting Southern Sudanese dignitaries presented her latest CD album as a gift to outgoing President George W. Bush.
“Thank you leaders, thank you George Bush, thank you for what you have done for the south Sudanese people,” sings Lam in one track. “Now that our flag has arisen, there is really now a government” for South Sudan.
Bush received the CD during the visit of Salva Kiir Mayardit, the president of the autonomous Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS), who came to thank Bush on the fourth anniversary of the peace agreement and meet with aides of President-elect Barack Obama.
Born in the Upper Nile region on Sudan’s southeastern borderlands, Lam came from a family of singers and trained her young voice in her church choir. But the period of her upbringing was a harsh time for her people, she recalled in an interview. “I did not grow up in Sudan,” she said, “because of war my father could find no food, no this, no that, so we moved to Ethiopia for the better conditions.”
Her experiences strike a familiar chord with fellow southerners, some four million of whom were displaced during the war. “God help us, we are sick of wandering in the bush,” she sings on the track We Thank You, from her 2007 album. “God help give us our country, we are sick of wandering everywhere, there is no place that we have not seen, because we don’t have a government.”
Arriving in the United States in 2000, Lam marked the beginning of her singing career in 2002, when a ceasefire was signed in her home country. She has mostly lived in Omaha, Nebraska, home to the largest community of Sudanese in the United States.
The singer, who returned to perform in Sudan in 2007, cites diverse influences, from the popular Nuer musician Gordon Koang Duoth to American singer Mariah Carey. Other favorites include Ethiopian music, American country music and popular American R&B singers and rappers.
During her 2007 return trip, she performed in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, Southern Sudan’s capital of Juba and the towns Malakal and Nasir. “I cannot tell you how happy I was when I went, and even now,” she said. “Too many people came to that performance” in Nasir, she said, “because they knew me before I went to Africa. They know my songs. When I went… it was crazy.”
Though the singer traveled most recently for a performance in Alberta, Canada this September, she plans to continue working and performing in Omaha. Her songs voice optimism and praise for the leaders of Southern Sudan, including President Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar: “Our country is good now, Salva Kiir and Riek Machar they brought us the peace agreement. God gave them the opportunity.”
“Let there not be any children or anyone carrying guns, or a spear or a knife, except those who work for the government or are military trained,” she sings. “Let the children all go to school, so we can have doctors to treat our sickness and we can have technology to develop the country.”
Praise for the outgoing U.S. president is by no means universal among Sudanese, but it certainly can be effusive. “We love George Bush, because he brought peace to our country, and nobody did it before,” said Lam.
“South Sudanese are naming their cows George Bush,” said Head of GOSS Mission to the U.S. Ezekiel Lol Gathkuoth, “and even children.”
Cows, the most prized possessions in most southern societies, might bear the president’s name for now, but Bush’s enduring legacy in the south likely will depend on whether the peace agreement is implemented—a matter of little certainty, admit senior officials in both governments.
But for now Lam is definitely singing of peace. “I like this song, it does touch me,” said Tiach Jiech War, the personal assistant to the Head of Mission. “I listen to the CD and I agree with her in thanking George Bush.”
“God bless George Bush and God bless America,” entreated Lam.
(ST)
Lokang
Sudanese musician’s grateful voice reaches to White House
Congratulations to Eliz Chol Lam, you see, as she mentioned in her album there we wandered everwhere for we were lacing government in South Sudan and now have got one, I personally would rather comment that, let every try to talk of peace in South and sudan at large and we will be fine. thanks miss Eliz, thanks for your hard work, I have earlier that it is always pleasing to hear some achieved his or her goal, thanks for this, your voice is heard evrerywher in the world. we are always proude of those who try to unite our country rather then those who are always after division among our regions.
I respect your success and I am proud of it forsure.
Lokang
Sudanese musician’s grateful voice reaches to White House
Congratulations to Eliz Chol Lam, you see, as she mentioned in her album there that we wandered everwhere around the world for we were lacking government in South Sudan and now we have got one, I personally would rather comment that, let everyone try to talk of peace in South sudan at large and we will be fine. thanks miss Eliz, thanks for your hard work, I have earlier stated that, it is always pleasing to hear someone achieved his or her goal, thanks for this, your voice is heard evrerywher in the world. we are always proude of those who try to unite our country rather then those who are always after division among our regions.
I respect your success and I am proud of it forsure.
Ruach Jing
Sudanese musician’s grateful voice reaches to White House
In the earth nothing imposible but when you commit youeslf to do something, very easy you can get. Eliz Chol since she was born I think it was in her mind that she can meet such a president (Bush) but she commited herself to do some thing as tallen now she become a first Southern Sudan Artis Association (SSAA) who met Bush. Congratulation Elis, keep it up.
Have amercy very wher yoou go
[email protected]
Toang Tiach Tot
Sudanese musician’s grateful voice reaches to White House
People of kush ,people of southern sudan donot be amazed for ms.chol lam ‘is appearant infront of the world’s president go back to the Hollly Bible Isaiah:18 you will find the truth because the scripture says WHEN THE BANNER WILL BE RAISED ALL THE WORLD CAN SEE now the UN Mission in sudan brought all the races to see our flag flying in the heart of our dear land for sure God has poured his blessng on us we don’t have a dream about this AMAZING THINGS Let me remind you with one thing in 1987 when his Excellency Salva kiir and late Dr.john addressing the SPLA in longkuey as a war commander that time he have no vision to meet an American president the same thing to ms.chol lam who was wandering in the concerntration camp for refugee has no such a vision to dance in front of the world leader .this is a blessing and go a head Nyachol nyimar and our president His Excellency salva kiir GO ! go! go ! go!HEAD we jinubin are are behind you taking us to the fire or to the cold place we are behind you donot doubt your country has a strong and fearless men .
nyadeng Garang
Sudanese musician’s grateful voice reaches to White House
Don’t bleach your skin over there in America. You will not be accepted here back home. Okey!!!!!!!!!!!! I can see your skin look very lightly like an Arab. Please love yourself. Don’t hate yourself.
mathem jech amer
Sudanese musician’s grateful voice reaches to White House
Dear All,
I appreciate your comments about this lady. I know her personally and we were in one class at Itang Refugee Camp in 1980s.
It is my first time to to see Mrs/Mr. Nyandeng congratulating on this web plus his friends whom I read their names and all seem to be Nuer. Is it Because she is from Nuer? Many people were commenting badly about a lady who was appointed an MP in Jonglei state. Instead of apprecaiting her position, people were attacking her as if she was a prostitute.
Please let us develop sense of responsibility and appreciation, it doesn’t matter her/his nationality, or tribe, but consider as being Southern Sudanese. When President-Elect Obama won, John Maccain (his rival partner) was the first person to pick the phone to call Obama and Congratulated him with the words ” Your people really compaigned very well”.
If election happen in Southern Sudan and one of the minority tribes win, can any other majority groups appreciate? Rather instead, agitating it and try to take the post by force.
Actually, I am trying to convey my message to brothers in Southern Sudan and other parts of the world to develop the sense of responsibilty. Unity will come to the south through the young generation but not the old. I believe if old young boys who were in Ethiopia come together and get some high ranking positions in the government, I believe unity in the south will come attractive.
I thank Aliz Chol for her beautiful songs. May God brightens her mind in order to compose more attractive songs!
Mathem Jech Amer
Port Sudan