Connect with us

Culture

How South Sudanese singer John Frog moved from child soldier to Afrobeats star

Published

on

John Frog may be one of South Sudan’s most successful musicians at the moment, but a little over 10 years ago, he was a child soldier conscripted to fight in the country’s civil war at the age of eight.

John Frog was born during the civil war and his parents were soldiers in the SPLA – the Sudan People’s Liberation Army but fortune later smiled on him as he realised his true calling of making music.

Today, the youngster has forged an international reputation and has collaborated with artists from other African countries, including Uganda’s Eddie Kenzo, Bahati from Kenya, and recently, Iyanya from Nigeria whom he featured in his latest song, “My Bed”, with the collaborations placing him as one of the most sought after Afrobeats artistes in Africa.

According to a feature story by the BBC Africa, “Frog is his real name. He was called Aguek, which means frog in Dinka, a language native to South Sudan, because he was a breech baby, coming into the world feet-first.”

“Given that his mother gave birth to him in a remote village with no hospital or doctor in sight, he was lucky to survive, as was his mother.”

Speaking on his experience in the army, John Frog said:

“They didn’t give us a gun yet, until I was 14 – that’s when I was given a gun.

“Every day, every week, there is a fight, so we have to run in the forest, in the water, so it was quite tough for me.”

He confessed that he didn’t go to school and only picked up English from the street.

Frog said he always loved music and even in the forest he would listen to traditional music.

He recalled that it was when he got the opportunity to go to South Sudan’s capital, Juba, where he met other young Africans that he started making music himself.

“We didn’t have enough producers in Juba. The producers who are here are from Kenya and Uganda, so it was a bit hard to know the kind of genre for South Sudanese music, so I decided to do Afrobeats.”

Frog noted that South Sudanese musicians who make the most money are the traditional praise singers.

“They praise people, they praise leaders, praise people who have money, so it’s the quickest way to make money here.

“But my aim is to reach the wider audience. Either this year or next year, I have to be among our brothers who are on top,” he vowed.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Culture

South African tavern owner kills seven, self in deadly mass shooting

Published

on

A South African tavern owner has reportedly killed seven people, including a three-year-old child, in a mass shooting in Gauteng Province, before turning the gun on himself.

The provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Brenda Muridili, who confirmed the incident, said it happened during the early hours of Sunday, October 13, in the Mokokotlong informal settlement and is being investigated by police in Orange Farms.

Muridili said the incident was stoked after one of the victims went to the local tavern to buy alcohol but he found that it was already closed.

“He (the victim) had an altercation with the tavern owner and went back home. It is alleged that the tavern owner followed him home where the family members were still celebrating after lobola negotiations. The tavern owner entered the house and opened fire on the family members.

“He shot and killed seven people including a three-year-old boy (five family members, a neighbour, and a friend).

“Four people survived the shooting, two of them, a 31-year-old and a one-year-old boy were taken to hospital with injuries while a 24-year-old woman and a four-year-old did not have injuries,” Muridili said.

Muridili said the tavern owner then drove back to his home in Evaton where he then turned the gun on himself and shot himself.

‘He was rushed to the hospital but died on arrival. The Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit has registered seven counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and an inquest,” Muridili said.

Continue Reading

Culture

South African star Tyla grabs four MTV EMA nominations

Published

on

2024 is definitely a good year for South African “Ampiano” star, Tyla, as she continues to shine on the global stage after receiving four nominations for the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs).

Tyla, who already boasts of an incredible catalogue full of awards, has scooped a Grammy, a Billboard R&B Award, and an MTV Video Music Award (VMA).

She has also received five nominations for the South African Music Awards (SAMAs) and has more opportunities of scooping more awards with her latest nominations.

Tyla’s EMA nominations include Best New Artist, Best Afrobeats Artist, Best R&B Artist and Best African Act, making it her first-ever nomination for the EMAs.

Tyla who spoke on the new nominations, explained she was beyond grateful for the nominations and said it was “a dream come true to be recognised among such incredible artists.”

According to the South African, the “Water’ star has paved the way for African artists on the global stage, proven to be an inspiration for musicians across the continent, and been a key figure among African artists on the global stage.

Tyla’s recognition in the Best Afrobeats category, in particular, is significant. It reflects the growing popularity of the genre globally, with artists like Burna Boy and Rema also nominated,” the entertainment platform wrote.

The EMAs will take place in Manchester on 10 November and fans can place their votes up until 6 November with Nigerian singer, Ayra Starr, also nominated as “Best New Artist.”

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

VenturesNow3 hours ago

3 years after, Nigeria’s Belemaoil restarts Oil Lease 55

Following a three-year hiatus due to theft-related damage to the plant, Nigerian independent producer, Belemaoil Producing, has reopened operations at...

Video3 hours ago

Video: Amid unpopular reforms, W’Bank chief insists Nigeria must ‘stay in course’ for 15 years

In this video, Indermit Gill, the Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank who also serves as the Pension...

VenturesNow4 hours ago

Kenya permits JPMorgan Chase to open representative office

The central bank of Kenya announced on Monday that JPMorgan Chase (JPM.N) had been permitted to create a new tab...

VenturesNow4 hours ago

Senegal launches 25-year social, economic plan

The Senegalese government unveiled a 25-year growth plan on Monday, claiming that it would establish the groundwork for economic sovereignty...

Politics4 hours ago

Nigerian Air Force adds 34 Italian planes, helicopters

Nigeria’s air force is acquiring 24 Italian-made M-346 attack jets and ten AW-109 Trekker helicopters as part of a fleet...

Musings From Abroad5 hours ago

Cancelled Brazil mines contract may cost S’Africa’s Sibanye $522 million

Following the cancellation of a $1.2 billion agreement to purchase Appian’s Brazilian nickel and copper mines, investment firm, Appian Capital...

Metro23 hours ago

‘Resign or face the law’, Zambian President Hichilema warns ministers with ‘long fingers’

Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has warned ministers, civil servants and officials with intention to perpetrate corruption in government to have...

Tech23 hours ago

Kenya’s auto-tech startup BuuPass expands system to new operators

Kenyan auto-tech startup, BuuPass, has announced the expansion of its Bus Management System (BMS) to new operators in a bid...

Musings From Abroad1 day ago

Uganda signs contract with Yapi Merkezi to develop rail

The Ugandan government and Turkish construction company, Yapi Merkezi, inked a contract on Monday to build a 272-kilometer (169-mile) stretch...

Sports1 day ago

NFF withdraws Eagles from Afcon match with Libya over shoddy treatment

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has decided to pull out the Super Eagles from the 2025 Africa Nations Cup (Afcon)...

Trending