Interview

The Citizen Newspaper often traces the musicians of South Sudan in society and interviews them to share their ideas about arts and culture industry in the new Republic. Recently our Reporter Dhieu Williams met one of the South Sudan artists and discussed with him his performance. Excerpts:
Question: Yes young gentleman you look generous what is your names?Answer: My real name is Jol Garang Jol.
Q: You said your real name is Jol Garang, any other name you are popularly known with?A: My stage name as artist is Dan Jolying meaning long awaited in Dinka language and popularly known by my fans.
Q: If you won’t mind, how old are you Jolying?A: Am 20 years old, born in Torit County Eastern Equatoria.
Q: When did you start to be an artist and where?A: I started my music in the year 2006 after CPA peace deal was signed and my first record was “this is my story” which really reflects back to the CPA that was signed to be history to all the Southerners.
Q: Mr. Jol what exactly inspired you to become an artist at this early age?A: I was inspired by the two local artists namely Angeth Aboric, Jose Chameleon of Uganda and other international artists together with talent and love for music and hope in me that one day I will surprise relatives and friends watching me on stage performing.
Q: How many albums have you made during your long time in music production? A: Well, I’ve so far launched two albums and still cooking some new hits for an album which I think will be liked by all the South Sudanese for the great message it carries for about the great achievement which they have done simultaneously during the referendum.The third album soon to be launched is “wait for” meaning the long awaited nation that we have been waiting for till we get our full independence at last.
Q: Could you please Mr. Dan name your album?A: First “this is my story”, second “Getku” let’s studied, and third “wait for”
Q: Furthermore, how did you get funds to support yourself, any helping hand behind your speedy production of these albums?A: Well financially I waste in the beginning from 2006 to 2009 but in the year 2010 my relatives were able to support me and now am steady financially.
Q: Anything you achieved so far that keeps you in the industry for this quiet a long time?A: For sure, in all you do there must be success and failure but my motto is “no condition is permanent” anyway I’ve achieved many things while in music industry like promoting South Sudan local music industry and reserved and diversified cultures of South Sudanese.
Q: While in music industry both home and in the neighborhood of Kenya and Uganda, what challenges have you experienced?A: Yeah! Ha! A lot of things do crack down everything.   I can’t say success is all come that come to me but challenges as well happened like at first financially and musically problem.
Q: Why do you think is popularly known by your thousands of fans at home and away?A: I was the first Sudanese musician to open up shows in Uganda, open up some night shows for idle Southerners abroad to hook up for and luckily enough I can say I was the only young South Sudanese nominated for young talented East African Music Award where I became the second.Q: Any serious message to your fans outside there before the interview ends with the Citizen daily newspaper? A: Yeah, out there to my fans millions of congratulations for back up your local artists and thanks to the administration of the Citizen for their daily objectivity in relation to the media profession.