Sudanese Singer - Songwriter - Story teller

Strong blends of African rhythms with a modern sound.

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Born in a small town called Bor in the Malakal Region of the Upper Nile, Ajak grew up in a musical family and began singing along at all the village ceremonies and celebrations, learning the songs of her heritage. Later on she joined a local missionary choir singing gospel music in the Dinka style. In 1992, due to religious and political unrest imposed by the current government of Sudan, Ajak was forced to leave her home and went to college in Egypt, singing in the choirs.

Spending the next 8 years in exile in Cairo she joined international church choirs and later on formed a female singing group called 'Bor Band' that performed traditional and original Dinka songs. Under the UN Humanitarian Aid program, Ajak was accepted to migrate to Australia in 1999, and joined the small number of Southern Sudanese refugees in Hobart, Tasmania. She soon became known to the local community and was invited to perform at a number of events including the Hobart Refugee Fundraising Concerts, and other refugee awareness conferences.

In 2001, Ajak formed the band Wahida (Arabic for Unity). Wahida was active on Hobart's night music scene, performing her original songs in a new and vibrant Afro-Dinka blues style, with a line up including keyboards, guitar, flute, oud, and various African percussion instruments. Later in 2002, Ajak started performing at various festivals in Australia, often accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Martin Tucker.

In May 2004, Ajak produced her demo CD Why not Peace & Love? Ajak sings in her native Dinka language as well as in Arabic and English. Her deeply philosophical and global concerns are expressed in her heartfelt songs about freedom, peace, love, marriage, and ... cows, the foundation of Dinka life. Her performing style has great appeal, both visually and musically. She is unique in Tasmania and wherever she performs it leaves her audience spellbound.

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Performance History - main appearances

2006

• KULTOUR Australia Council touring program, concerts in Fremantle, Darwin, Katherine, Tenant Creek, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Melbourne
• Boite World Music Cafe North Fitzroy, Box Hill (Vic)
• Bendigo Conference: Music, Community, Justice: Australian Sounds (speaking engagement)(Vic)
• Melbourne International Festival Second Home Series

2005

• Byron Bay (NSW)
• Melbourne, Boite World Music Cafe North Fitzroy (Vic)
• Melbourne, Thursday�s Children Community Choir (workshop) (Vic)
• Azadi, Melbourne Millennium Chorus Concert, Hamer Hall (Vic)

2004

• Ten Days on the Island (TAS)
• National Folk Festival in Canberra with critical acclaim (ACT)
• Byron Bay concert with invitation back next March 2005 from Ku Promotions (NSW)
• Bellingen Folk Festival (NSW).

2003

• Schools performances and workshops.

2002

• Flight, Melbourne Millennium Chorus Concert, Melbourne Concert Hall (Vic)

2001

• Apollo Bay Festival (Vic)
• Maldon Folk Festival (Vic)
• International Women�s Day (Tas)
• Cygnet Folk Festival (Tas)
• Multicultural Ball (Tas)
• Summer Festival (Tas)