Local drummer, Ajing Deng beats the drum as the dancers follows along. With him is a very young boy who is also caugh up in the action of drum beating. He is at it at a very young age, but its part of the rich tradition of the Sudanese culture.

Local drumist, Ajing Deng beats the drum as the dancers follows along. With him is a very young boy who is also caugh up in the action of drum beating. He is at it at a very young age, but its part of the rich tradition of the Sudanese culture.

International focus moved away from Sudan’s long civil war toward the regional rebellion and government’s genocidal reaction that began in Darfur around 2003. Darfur rebels became active with the objective of being included into the peace talks that resulted with the CPA deal. Unfortunately, they were excluded for reasons that are still not clear to me.

The signing of the CPA initiated a six-year interim period, during which time the central government in Khartoum and the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan are to pass laws that will allow the two regions to coexist. Border issues are to be resolved, oil wealth distribution is to be made equitable, cencus and election legislation is to be passed. According to the CPA, if the two regions are still unable to coexist after the six years, then in 2011, Southern Sudan will hold a self-determination referendum to decide whether or not for independence, creating Africca’s newest independent state.

The 5th anniversary and Sudan’s first democratic, multiparty elections to be held in April 2010 are drawing more attention to the situation in all of Sudan. The myopic, but still important, focus on Darfur is being brought into the fold of the larger and more precarious situation in Southern Sudan, where much of the civil war was fought. If war returns to Southern Sudan, it will consume all of Sudan and the larger region.

One of the symptoms of the resurgent interest in maintaining the CPA in Sudan is Sudan 365, A Beat for Peace. Musicians from around the world (Sudan, UK, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Ireland, Egypt, Rwanda, Spain, Russia, USA, India, and elsewhere), take a video of themselves playing (mostly) percussian instruments that have been edited together in the video below as a single music video. Known artists like Radiohead’s Philip Selway, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason, Snow Patrol’s Jonny Quinn, the Police’s Stewart Copeland, have participated.

If you want to add your beat to the melée, you just need to upload your peace beat. It’s time to get the drums out and call your friends!

In recent days, we have learnt about the election ballots papers being printed by the governmental currency printer, the threat by Omar al Bashir to expell international election observers, thousands of missing names on voter lists in Eastern Equatoria, or the SPLM refusing the Sudanese Armed Forces to transport ballot papers to Southern Sudan.

It’s time to bring a bit of artistic creativity into the fold. Maybe spontaneous dancing will bring people together outside music shops in the markets of Juba and Khartoum, outside radio stations in Malualkon or Rumbek.

Sudan Votes asked musicians from all areas of Sudan to produce songs to promote peaceful, political participation in the upcoming April elections. On April 11, 2010, Sudanese will participate in the first elections in the country since 1986. Most people will have never voted before and popular education is an important facet to public participation.

The message of the music is “Yes to political participation! Yes to fair and peaceful elections!” A sort of election anthem. More than 120 submissions were received and 12 finalists were chosen by Sudan Votes journalists and German folk, soul and rap artist, Max Herre. Emmanuel Jal figures prominently among the finalists. I particularly like the track by Emannuel Kembe that you can listen to below.

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The above tune is one of the 12  chosen tracks included on the Sudan Votes, Music Hopes cassette compilation that is distributed throughout the country.

(source: Sudan Votes)

All of the 12 tracks can be downloaded from the project website for free but people are encouraged to make a donation. The total donations will be divided evenly among the 12 artists in an equitable democratic process: Download what you like while supporting the initiative of each of the artists.

It reminds me… I bought six cassette tapes in the Aweil market during my last visit to Southern Sudan and I haven’t played them yet. I guess it’s time to dust off the old tape deck and give them a listen!

One day after the euphoria which galvanized the CPA celebration across Southern Sudan, local artists in Western Equatoria State have expressed anger and dismay with the state organizers of the memorable CPA celebration in 2010.

(Emmanuel Kembe and Jeffrey Campbell. Strong supporters of local musicians in South Sudan, courtesy SudanVotes)

The fifth and probably the last CPA celebrations took place in Yambio, the capital of Western Equatoria State on 19th January 2010. Independent observers say there was alot of expectations from the state’s local artists but the expectations turned into disappointment as none of the artists from Western Equatoria State were invited or given a chance to perform.  Some of them had been practicing for months with the hope that they would be part of the celebrations.

Unfair

Very unfair indeed – said some of the artists, “At least we need recognitions from our state government and the efforts [we] are doing by creating awareness about the CPA, Elections and HIV through [our] songs”; added one of the local artists Ms. Sweet J.

“I made a lot of arrangements in preparation for the celebrations and recorded a lot of music hoping that I will perform and sell some of my records, but now I am just giving them away to people for free” Sweet J stated.

“Our colleagues from Upper Nile and Central Equatoria states who were invited to perform in Nzara felt sorry for us and asked us to join them as we were bored” said Ambassador Koko one of the local Yambio artists.

Western Equatoria Expert Mr. Justin Wannis observes that, Congolese Music Legend, Kanda Bongo man from neighboring DRC was also allowed to perform at the CPA celebrations in Yambio for the sum of $20,000 an amount that could help the local artist to develop.

He disclosed to me that Kanda Bongo man sympathized with the local musicians and took some of the local artists with him inside the stadium to perform so that they can learn or benefit from his skills but then the artists were sent out by the organizers.  Wannis asks that, “when is the state going to recognize the talents of its own sons/daughters?”  “This event could have exposed the local artists to the outside states and encourage them to develop speedily but the organizers decided against this, said one of the artists who requested anonymity.

Sudan Votes contacted  the CPA organizers, the state High Level Committee for the 5th anniversary. Deputy Governor Col Joseph Ngere who heads the State High Level Committee vehemently denied the complain filed by the WES local artists. He says that, the local musicians were put on the list to perform after Kanda Bongo Man, adding that he and State Governor had left when Bongo was still happening, after that he did not know what happened.

Deputy Governor further revealed that, “after receiving complaints from the local artists he facilitated the musicians logistical for their bid to perform,” however Sudan Votes could not verify this claim independently.

Tutu Phina one of the local rocking artists alleged that, “there was something fishy concerning the humiliation they (WES Musicians) have experienced from their own government, adding that, “in fact Mr. Journalist, I don’t know which term I can use to express and describe the ordeal and [our] disappointments as WES musicians.  Our songs were barred over the FM radio in hours leading to the CPA celebration.”

Local observers say, the latest complain from the host musicians is one of many complains coming from the civilians, the intended beneficiaries, who had hoped to benefit from the multi million event, many civilians were encouraged by the state government to lay bricks, but to their surprise most of the construction works for the CPA were done using imported concrete bricks from Juba leaving most of WES young men in dilemma and mistrust against the state government.

Musicians warn that, such maltreatment may impede the young music industry in the Western Equatorial state and hinder the economic growth of local artists.

66 million Sudanese Pounds was allocated and approved for the 5th CPA event; the state is yet to account to the masses or to Sudanvotes how the money has been spent.  We wait for their response.