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Dandenong musicians break new ground

By Dan Garang Marrial

 
 MELBOURNE - The Southern Sudan Boys (SSB) hip-hop and rap musicians launched their first Album Who will care at Noble Park Community Centre to the delight of more than 2000 fans, spectators and staunch supporters.
 
The Southern Sudan Boys is the recent combination of Daddy’D and Greybull.
Daddy’D is the stage name of rising rapper Akech Dau Monyjok. He chose the name as an expression of love and happiness after the birth of his three-year-old son Dau Akech Dau.
Greybull is the stage name of David Thon Garang. Garang is from the Dinka tribe in Sudan and his stage name is derived from `THON’ meaning bull in Dinka. He has 14 years experience in the industry and started as a guitarist/singer in a small town called Pakok in Sudan in 1994.
The SSB boys fled war-torn Sudan in the 1990s after fighting erupted between the Southern Sudan rebels and the Sudan Government. The war claimed 2.5 million lives, including their fathers and separated them from their mothers and relatives.
The two singers fled to Kenya in different ways. Daddy’D left Sudan after his village was destroyed by the Sudan Government and other rebel factions. Greybull left Sudan for Ethiopia then went back to Sudan and finally to Kenya before coming to Australia.
They arrived in Australia in early 2006 individually. Greybull, who is now 27, came alone because all his relatives were scattered in unknown parts of Sudan. Daddy’D come with his sister. Both men now have girlfriends and each has a child.
Following their arrival, they performed in concerts, clubs, and weddings and at other festivals. Greybull had previously performed in many concerts in Nairobi, Kenya including one at the New Sudan Artist Association.
In Australia, he performed at Dandenong‘s Castle Youth Music Festival last year and at the Refugees Day concert in Adelaide and the Queen Festival at Toowoomba in Queensland in 2006.
The SSB boys have no professional support from any other musicians.