Interview by Juba Pulse
What is the story of G-Dinkas?
G-Dinkas is a music band which was formed by three Lost Boys of Sudan (South Sudan).
Its founders are D-Chainz aka Dut Kemenjang, Garang Dhel, and Kachuol Mel. The band was formed in July 2009.
Where are you from?
I’m a South Sudanese musician living in North America. Specifically, my home is Mading Aweil, a village called Majak Baai in South Sudan.
What is your life journey like?
It is not pretty; I left my village in 1986 during South Sudanese civil war which broke out in 1983. I was an 8 year old boy who could only walk a few meters at that time, luckily, I met my uncle, who was also fleeing the war and he decided to take me along. He carried on his back, helped me cross treacherous rivers and looked for the little food that we survived on during the long trek.
We walked for 3 months, barefoot, through the border and into Itang-Ethiopia. Itang (also called Etang) is a town in the Gambela Region in western Ethiopia. Back in 1986, there was a refugee camp at Itang. I think the camp still exists. We stayed there for 4 years.
My stay in Ethiopia lasted till some conflict broke out here too in 1991. This war forced me and my fellow countrymen (South Sudanese) to leave the Ethiopia and move to Kenya in 1992. I stayed in Kenya, at Kakuma refugee camp till 2002 (10 years). In 2002, I left to America.
You have a team that you work with, how did the group came together?
We came together for the love of the music.
The G-Dinkas was formed mainly to educate the world about the 50 years of operations in Northern Sudan and the 21 year long civil war, and the many years of suffering that the South Sudanese people have endured. G-Dinkas music speak on these and for the people. Since its formation, G-Dinkas has successfully established itself in the Western world. We have G-Dinkas management with Aluel Mayen Geng, and our record label is called Lost Boys/ Lost Gurls production INC.
In terms of music and the production of your first major work, when (which year) did this happen?
It’s wasn’t easy because we were students in the college at that time. We only met at the weekends and only for few hours because of classwork responsibilities.
However, with the help of Mark, our American producer at Markosa Studios and our Kenyan producer DJ OWEN, we produced our hit album Riak Panda. Riak Panda means the destruction of our homes. In the album, we discuss dialogue and survival.
The album was dropped in 2010 to much fanfare and excitement. During the same year, we released another album. Come 2018 we released another hit album called Pan Yam (Meaning new home). Pan Yam was made up of 20 great songs like ‘We are One People’, ‘South Sudan is My Country’ and many more.
You derive your name from the name of your tribe the Dinka, why was it important for you that your group identifies itself this way?
I’m a proud Dinka yes, just like any other person is proud to be of their particular tribe. As Africans, the tribe is a vital part of our identity. However, I do believe that what you do as an individual or group has nothing to do with tribe you come from. For example, what G-Dinkas does as a group, has nothing to do with the rest of Dinkas out there. We are responsible for our actions as individuals.
I have met and worked with kind South Sudanese men and women from other tribes too; people who value you as a South Sudanese national and not because of your tribe. For me, this is the idea that we should all aspire to. We need to see ourselves and contribute to the growth of our country as people from one nation. This is what our music is about. This is the dream we are trying to pass to the youth.
Does it worry you that people may conclude from your name that you are a tribal music unit and not a national one?
Not really. G-Dinkas as a group uses personal experience to inspire and change the world. For us, it starts with individual intellect, creativity, imagination and independent rational thinking. G-Dinkas are all about creative mind set. We can be found at www. Gdinkas.com Twitter @gdinkasworld, instagram @gdinkas Facebook @G-Dinkas KC and our YouTube @ G Dinkas.
Do you think that your music reflects the dreams and hope of the nation?
Yes I do. I put my country first as a black South Sudanese African above all else. 95% of G-Dinkas songs talks of peace love and togetherness. Songs like ‘We are One People’, ‘South Sudan’s My Country’ from the 2018 new album- Pan Yam-which means new home. Or ‘Freedom is Not Free’, ‘Gam Ku Door’ (Meaning let’s accept the peace) both from new projects coming up this summer 2019... I believe that together we can make a big difference but divided we will all fall.
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