Cover design by Rita Reuter
Special thanks to Dirk Bertels, Martin Tucker, Thomas Reid, Nicky Bomba, Therese Virtue and the choir, and all the musicians, and the Dinka Women singers who asked to remain anonymous as they have been persecuted for music-making in their native Sudan and they still fear further reprisals . Extra Special Thanks to Chris Basile for his inspiring passion for music.
Born and raised in a Dinka village on the Upper Nile in South Sudan, Ajak Kwai grew up in a musical family and began singing at ceremonies and celebrations, learning the songs of her heritage as a child. In 1992, due to religious and political persecution imposed by the current government of Sudan, Ajak was forced to leave her home and fled to Egypt.
Spending the next eight years in exile in Cairo, she formed an all-female group with fellow refugees from her homeland to perform traditional and original Dinka songs. Under the UN Humanitarian Aid program, Ajak migrated to Australia in 1999, and joined the small number of Southern Sudanese refugees in Tasmania. She soon became well-known to the local community performing her songs as a soloist accompanying herself on a hand-drum.
In 2001, Ajak Kwai formed a band to perform her original songs in a new and vibrant Afro-Dinka blues style, with a line-up including electronic keyboards, electric guitar, flute, oud, and African percussion instruments, featuring multi-instrumentalist Martin Tucker.
In 2004, Ajak released her first album 'Why Not Peace and Love?' with songs 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, and love.
In 2008, Ajak Kwai’s newest album is 'Come Together.' Produced by multi-instrumentalist Chris Basile, ‘Come Together’ heralds a funky new sound with a new band. Listen to six songs from the CD here on MySpace, and come out and see the new 8-piece Ajak Kwai Band.
Online Now!
