A RIGHT TURN, A SECOND CHANCE
‘I don’t define myself with any political party , right now I just want to focus on my music’
K-Denk
He blew our minds and we loved him, it’s safe to say he made it. From Tusker Project Fame to Grandpa Records he had it all. He inspired many and we believed that he would take the South Sudan music industry to the next level.
Koang Deng better known as K-Denk, now 29 years old and studying Political Science at a University in Ethiopia caught up with South Theatre Academy and this is what he had to say.
STA: You have been on the down low for quite some time now, do you still do music?
K-DENK: Haha, for the past 4 years I have been silent school and stuff, but now I’m planning to go platinum.
STA: When did you start doing music? Before or after TPF
K-DENK: I started music in Kakuma, back in 2002. But life was difficult there so it didn’t grow. I then moved to Juba in 2008 where I was working as a journalist and I started recording, then TPF came along.
STA: We don’t recall seeing you win the auditions, so how then did you end up in the academy?
K-DENK: Hahaha true, I actually failed the auditions and went back. But the guy who won was going for military training in Russia and I was the next option. Therefore I was called to go into the academy and replace him.
STA: How did you get a contract with grandpa records and are you still there?
K-DENK: After I was evicted I was taken back to juba, but then after a while I came back on my own to catch up on interviews and that’s when I met with Refigah- the grandpa records producer and we struck a deal.
My contract ended with Grandpa so currently I’m open to any record label.
STA: We have been hearing many controversial things about you, that you’re a rebel. Is that true?
K-DENK: I was a rebel. I did it out of defence. But right now, I’m not politically inclined. I’m a non participant in politics. I don’t define myself with any political party right now. I just want to focus in my music.
STA: What made you stop being a rebel?
K-DENK: My music encouraged me. See, I’m a musician not a politician. I realised though late, that it would affect my musical career.
Also, the fact that I was in the front line fighting and the politicians weren’t discouraged me.
STA: You talk of going back to music what made you stop? What made you not bloom as you were supposed to?
K-DENK: After TPF I didn’t utilize my presence and resources well. I wasn’t being serious with what I had but now that I intend on going back to the music industry, I hope to make it better.
STA: Apart from you, we realize that South Sudan TPF participants don’t really make it out in the music industry. We expect them to carry our flag higher but our expectations aren’t met.
K-DENK: For me as I said, I wasn’t serious about my opportunities. For Palek, Nancy and Mer I really don’t know. I can’t speak for them but I know they’re good musicians. What I can say is that the South Sudan music industry needs to be polished. It’s not that well developed and that can be discouraging.
Also, what I realised is that some radio stations in South Sudan don’t fully promote musicians. They seem biased, they overplay some artiste’s music and others aren’t or just once in a while. It’s unfortunate because they’re many good musicians.
STA: Still on music, what can you say about South Sudan music industry?
K-DENK: Umm, our country is going through a lot right now and the way forward is difficult therefore establishing the music industry can be a bit of a challenge. But I think the most important thing is to define our genre. Kenya has genge, Nigeria has its genre, Tanzania has it bongo and Uganda has its beats, what about us?
I believe that when we define our genre, our musical journey will be a bit easy. Also, find what you’re good at and stick to it, polish on that genre and you will make it in music.
STA: Up to today we don’t have major people representing us in the music industry. Eddy Kenzo of Uganda won an award, diamond of Tanzania is all over and in Kenya Sauti Sol is also touring all over but in South Sudan we have nothing, what’s your take?
K-DENK: I still say we need to up our game. South Sudan musicians have an opportunity to showcase their songs across borders but they don’t seem to seize the opportunity. I, like many other people thought Emmanuel Jal would make it far but I don’t know what happened.
But as for me, I intend on raising our flag and being all over, that’s why I’m back. I also want to work with visionary musicians, people who are serious because nobody can work with people who don’t want to grow themselves. I really want to represent South Sudan in east Africa and to the rest of the world. I can see Supasta Babyone doing well in kenya music industry.
JAMAICA "JUBAICA"; TURNING THE STREETS OF JUBA INTO A CARRIBEAN HOLIDAY
We love him, he entertains us, and we love his dredz too. David Aguto, better known as MCGHETTO is on a road that sees no boundaries. His aim I believe is to see south Sudanese calypso other than loor- don’t worry, we won’t abandon our loor but we will come TOGETHER and DANCE! This young lad of 23 years started his music journey in high school and the tune to our jam ‘Dinka girl’ is a successful product of that.
STA: Apart from music, what else do you do?
I plan events at Skylux club. I’m planning to go back to school too.
STA: You don’t look anything like a gangster, how did you come about the name MCGHETTO?
Haha, my other English name is Mac and I used to love a song by Bobbie Wine called ghetto. I sung it all the time so my friends started calling me ghetto. All I did was add Mc and ghetto.
STA: How did you get into dancehall music?
I love reggae music and I got inspired by a south Sudanese dancehall artist Embra Tor. He was based in the US then but now he’s in Juba.
STA: Your dreadlocks, are they anything to do with your music?
No, my dredz have nothing to do with music. It’s just a bucket list thing. I always wanted to have dredz so I started by growing an afro then I had dredz later.
STA: You have a song coming out, Rumchiel and another you’re collaborating with A-Boy, indulge us.
Actually the brains behind it is an Australian musician Young Low, he called me and A-Boy and told us to collabo with him, it’s called winner but it’s almost done coz he’s yet to add his part. Rumchiels audio is yet to be released but I’m working on the video, hopefully by the end of this month. Winners video will hopefully be out on July.
STA: Why music, why not any other field like acting?
To me, music is fun, I enjoy what I do and I do it to promote unity. Music is the easiest way to bring people together.
STA: What can you say is the biggest challenge you face in the music industry?
Firstly, our folk don’t support us, we do music for a good cause and their support would be beneficial to us, especially because they have the funds we really need. Shooting videos and recording costs cash that I alone hustle for.
We also need more support from you guys, support local talent plus most times we perform and were not paid.
Also, the conflict was a huge hindrance for me. I was to go on tour to Australia but after the conflicts, the embassy denied us-my manager and I entry. It was a huge chance for me to get more recognition but I’m still planning another tour.
STA: You had a dancehall scene, what was that all about?
Well, ‘hot in juba’ was saying that most south Sudanese artists do dancehall and that’s copying, I simply responded back. I don’t think its copying, I think it’s just doing what you’re comfy in. If most people feel good doing dancehall, let them be.
TO MY FELLOW JUNUBIN ARTISTS. Slimboi Real
It's about talent and keeping intelligence at greater heights as well.STA website writers last week urges Junubin who can write great poems or passing a great message to Junubin as long as it's non political can be send to them and shall be publish here. Below is a message to fellow junubin artists by your own artist who have dropped a musical mic and took a new turn to enjoy the fruits of education we learn in school for a nation for long had been hidden behind the clouds of war and social injustice.
I'm so happy for you guys cause you are working so hard to unite our people musically. And I hope one day you guys will thwart tribalism and unite our people.
But, I'm solicitude for you guys to study. Go to school so that you will write a pragmatic lyrics. I know that we are facing financial crisis, but if you have a chance, please don't lost it. And I know we barry according to our backgrounds, some of us come from penniless familes while some of us come from rich families.
Urging you to study doesn't mean that I'm against your job (music), but I want you to do both of them together cause music is your talent. Why would you quit it? Go to school and let music be your part time job.
Later on when music fails, it is gonna be easy for you to find a job.
SlimBoiReal
SPEEDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OF POVERTY IN A LUXURY CAR.
Many people are “speeding down the highway of poverty in a luxury vehicle.”
We are working hard to keep up with a lifestyle. We are aspiring after and admiring people who we perceive to have this lifestyle. We are getting into debt to fund this lifestyle. Then we cheat ourselves that because we have a great lifestyle we are wealthy.
You may have a flashy lifestyle but be the poorest person in the room. Having a great income and lifestyle can cheat you that your financial life is headed in the right direction but in actual fact, it may not be.
Someone at the event asked me what the signs that someone is headed towards poverty are.
Here are some of the signs to watch out for. If you are early in your working life this is still important so that you do not get into the trap that many have found themselves in.
You cannot live without your salary. If your salary was delayed for a week you would be rioting in the streets. We all start out like this and indeed we may be here.
We need our salaries to pay rent, food, entertainment, school fees, etc. This is called dependence. However this cannot be our long-term plan. You need to be actively working towards being able to live without your salary.
To do that means portions of your income (the older you are the more the portion) should be going towards savings and investments rather that simply moving to a bigger house, going to a more expensive bar or buying a bigger car. The bigger car is simply making you more dependent on the salary you earn.
Your Flossets exceed your Assets. The value of your cars, personal belongings, spend on holidays and so forth exceed actual investments such as property, shares, businesses etc.
If that is the case, you need to reverse this even if it means selling your flossets. The reason is simple: Flossets depreciate in value while assets appreciate in value. Have more of the things that will appreciate in value and less of the things that depreciate in value.
An asset can fund a flosset. For example, the investment property you buy can give you income to fund a holiday, but the car cannot fund the holiday. Do not sell your assets to fund flossets.
A friend of mine who is in real estate told me how she has been finding it odd that her clients with the huge lifestyles and big job titles are the same ones unable to raise deposits for the properties they are buying while other people who come across as very simple are able to, and many times pay off the properties in a couple of months in cash.
You spend to impress. Many times, we spend to impress other people. We falsely believe that the phone, the, neighborhood, club, car gives us respect or elevates our social status. Usually, you find it was not respect you got but short-lived attention.
To get the attention again when excitement over what you bought has died down, you will need to buy something else. This becomes a never ending cycle and a prison. Spending is not necessarily bad if it is line with your personal values and choices.
When you spend to impress, you are spending for other people not you. There is a difference between buying the car to be seen in that car and buying a car because it is something you decide you want to experience.
You have a high level of consumer debt. This means you have taken loans to fund lifestyle. Consumer debt includes credit cards, salary advance, school fees loans, furniture loans, car loans.
Any loan that did not result in money being made is a bad debt and you must keep these kinds of debt to an absolute minimum. At the end of the day, these debts usually mean you spent more than you were earning.
You bought clothes you couldn’t afford with the credit card, you took your kids to a school you can’t afford through a loan, etc.
You don’t have a plan for your life. This is actually the biggest clue that you may be speeding down the highway of poverty. In fact it also may be the reason that you find the points raised above apply.
The Bible says that people without vision perish. I have ended with this point but it should actually be where you start. I don’t believe anyone can tell you the vision you should have for yourself.
What I know is that the steps you take in life should be taking you towards your vision. You need to be able to tell how your current job or business is propelling you forward.
When you have these goals, you can then see why taking control of your spending is important, why exorbitant spend on lifestyle may be getting you further from the life you actually want and what the things are that have value to you that you would spend on.
BY REFIGAH THE HEVIWEIT (GRANDPA RECORDS KENYA CEO).