Exclusive: One on one with Duop, the ‘voice of independence’
A renowned South Sudan artist who played a great role during the 2010 elections and the referendum, Duop Pur Duop, has opened up about the unknowns of his behind the scene personal life and music career.
Duop shot to stardom in 2009 and 2010 after producing songs that evoked the spirit of nationalism.
One of his hits was “shabab gumkum fog election ja”, literally meaning “youth standing for election.’’ It was one of the songs that motivated the youth to vote for separation in 2010.
Here is his interview with The City Review.
BOKA Jr: Welcome to this interview. Who is Duop?
Duop: Yes, sure, but first thank you so much for reaching out for this interview. My name is Duop Pur Duop, a professional artist and am now serving as Vice President of the South Sudan Artists union.
BOKA Jr: Taking you back to your childhood, where were you born and grew up?
Duop: I started music earlier when I was a child. That is since 1990 in a place called Wanthoa or Matar Gaguang. I served in Sunday school in the church as a leader and a lead-singer to my fellow Sunday school. And a few years later, I began participating in local and traditional functions singing and leading people as a public singer. I used to sing community songs to mass.
BOKA Jr: How was your education?
Duop: After a few years of school break, I resumed my primary school in 1993 in a place called Safara and punyido refugees camp, Gambella, Western Ethiopia. After I completed my primary school level, I moved to Addis Ababa in 1998 where I continued with my high school until when I sat for Ethiopia secondary school leaving certificate and joined Jimma University in 2003, faculty of law.
In my first year, the second semester, I had to withdraw from the university because of sickness. However, after my withdrawal in the same year, I also began to work on my music career especially my first album and which I released in 2006, and I immediately left the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. I arrived on March 7, 2006, in Juba.
BOKA Jr: After dropping out from campus, what were your next plans?
Duop: My whole decision or reason to drop from school and shifted to music was to help my country and the leadership to liberate the country from northern Sudan. Indeed, my participation in C.P.A. was about peace dissemination during the 2010 election, referendum campaign leading to Independence on July 9 2011.
BOKA Jr: When did you discover music talent?
Duop: I discovered and entered the South Sudan Music industry in 2006 up to now. Am amongst the older guys in the industry and my first colleagues I worked with here in Juba include Freedom Boys, Golgotha, Emmanuel, John Kudusay, Gordon Kong and many others.
BOKA Jr: What was your first song to hit off the ground?
Duop: My first popular song was “Ci Mal Been which talks about Juba, Wau, Malakal, Jonglei and Khartoum. It was then followed by 25%, Duop Mala, C.P.A and SPLM won in the 2010 Sudan General election.
BOKA Jr: Were you inspired by anyone, if yes, who could that be?
Duop: Yes, and that is Gordon Koang, including Nyankol, Mathiang Down, William, Joe Simon, Teddy Afro, Mamoud Abdulaziz.
BOKA Jr: You are one of the national stars, which song made you popular?
Duop: It is true, I strongly admired and enjoyed the support from all South Sudanese people, disregard of tribe or background. The first popular song that I believed made me famous is Juba, Wau, Malakal (Ci mal Been) and Ya comrade Kalik takun mana.
BOKA Jr: After the independence, which you contributed to through music, what did you do next as you felt like a free citizen in your country?
Duop: In 2013, I went back for my studies and I had the opportunity to enrol in New Generation University college, department of Global Studies and International Relations. I graduated on 26th August 2016. In 2018, I was admitted to the Master’s program at the University of Juba, Institute of peace, development, security and strategic studies, Master in Peace and Development Studies and graduated on June 19, 2021.
BOKA Jr: So far which are some big occasions you performed in?
Duop: Well, I believe I am the only national artist who had the opportunity to perform in the high profile government and first family events in the country. I performed at the 2008 SPLM National convention, Independence Day July 9, 2011, J1 for many times, National dialogue, CRS peace tour in Duk Padiet, UNMISS, K2 peace concert in Juba, wedding of the daughter of President Salva Kiir, Adut Salva’s wedding and his brother’s wedding, Akol Khor’s Weeding, Mayik Ayii’s Wedding, Thiik Thiik Mayardit’s wedding, Nyakuoth Taban Deng’s wedding, Achol Kuol Manyang’s wedding, Daniel Weed Akot’s son wedding, James Gatduel Gatluak sons and daughters’ weddings, and many others more functions.
BOKA Jr: What are some of the projects you worked on with other artists.
Duop: Yes, I did it only with South Sudanese fellow Artists, not with foreign Artists. Artists like Bulbul, CK on the Mic and now the ongoing unreleased song that I did with big-name national Artists like Silva X, DJ Cent, Bulbul and other 7 Artists in the collaboration. It is a song we intended to record upon our participation in Ethiopia’s national event, which didn’t come to light up to now.
BOKA Jr: You have been the Deputy President for the Artists’ Union of South Sudan, how were you given the position and running the duties?
Duop: Yes, of course, I had been in this political music business for a while and was glad that the country leadership admired my performance, though they don’t consider my role seriously.
In other countries, it is a hard decision to sing for a political party or personality but because we are back warded citizens, we could just do something without considering the consequences ahead, and sometimes you are forced to do so and the specific people or party you sing about or for may not even care about your welfare.
For the upcoming election, I think I should think about it because my participation in the past didn’t benefit me and the family. Instead, it has affected my music and my relationship with the public.
