Music can transform a wrong lifestyle, says Lakes artist

By Manyang Mayom

February 8, 2010 (RUMBEK) – The South Sudanese musician Marial Awuok Til Ajielkuei, a former soldier, jokes that he was so vocal even as a baby that his cries were a great annoyance to his mother.

“I usually cried a lot when I was a small baby and my mother’s dreams were most annoyed in handling me. I proceeded from this annoying crier to become now a musician and I will build it further,” he said.

Most of the local artists here are former child soldiers who took part in the liberation struggle. Ajielkuei said “I was born in a family of music; some people know about my father Col. Mark Awuok Til who composed songs for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army.”

“Music can change a wrong attitude lifestyle into a good lifestyle – I need Lakes state government to listen to music daily as well as its youth to compose local songs so that they can see change that they most want,” he said.

Marial Awuok Til Ajielkuei began his music career some time back in 1989 with a band known as Red Army Nizal Jazz Band or Frika Mangok Afrika in the Panyido Refugee Camp in Ethiopia. He started by playing drums, Thoom (Kasbah), then Adungu, a local instrument made of hide combined with timbers and nails. “I excelled in playing it in Kakuma Refugee Camp as from 1995 to 2002,” he recalled.

The artist says he has composed 47 songs so far of which he has recorded 36. “Most of my songs are national songs mainly based on togetherness of the South Sudanese, memorial songs, love songs and praising songs,” he said.

Ajielkuei obtained his education in Ethiopia at Panyido Refugee Camp beginning from 1990 to 1991. In 1999 to 2002 he managed to complete his Kenyan Certificated Primary Education (KCPE) in Kakuma Refugee Camp. In 2003 to 2006 Marial studied for the Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in Shiners Boys High School in Nakuru, Kenya. The musician is now present at the University of Juba at the Faculty of Education.

(ST)