World
My name is Baraka Lohuta Oyuru, I was born in Southern Sudan, on January 1,1974. At just 11 years old I became a soldier in the rebel army fighting Sudan's government milita. In addition to causing the death of my father and other relatives,my childhood was stolen from me. I left Sudan when I was 18, and went to Kenya for two years and lived in a refugee camp.I had been a rebel fighting against the government. The situation was getting worse and worse, and I knew I had to find something better. I got some education in Kenya. And I learned some English. Then I was accepted as a refugee and I came straight to Portland on June 16, 1995. I have been playing music all my life, as a child my father taught me how to play " African drumming" I used to sing in the church as crusader, and some times we travel together to sing some place with groups of people, I have been interested in playing music all the time. After many years of fighting a terrible war as a child soldier, it is a great joy to be able to follow my dream now that I am living in the United States. Since I came to the United States in 1995, I have been involved in music first with Reggae Roots in Portland,then with Orlando Julienne in Nashville Tennessee and with Mystic Vibes.I've just released my first album of songs about the plight of Sudan, called "Running Away Children." This is a major accomplishment for me of which I'm very proud. I also have had the oppurtunity to play with other bands, such as Jefferson Starship, Inner Circle , Andrew Tosh, The Beat Roots , Reach, Culture, The Waliers and The YellowMan. I also have performed at Bowdoin's Bear AIDS benefit. In addition to pursuing my own personal goals in music, I am also an advocate for my people, I go from different schools to talk about our culture around the State of Maine and I also have worked with a childrens days care and Middle School at sixth and seventh grade, And I have been a guest speaker at the Kennebec Valley Community College last year and this year Jan 20 and 22. I would very much like to give something back to my community, and I'm currently working on a second album. It will be called," The voice of South Sudan children." The children in Sudan suffer a lot. If you listen to the news lately, most of the people dying in Darfur are children and women. It's very difficult to watch the news and not do something about it.Most recently, I was interviewed at WCSH TV, Channel 6, and it will air on the " 207 " program February 23 at 7:00 and on February 27, I will be a guest speaker in Portsmouth, N.H. and play my music at the Seacoast African American Cultural center, 145 Daniel st. in downtown Portsmouth. And on March 5, my band and I will be performing in Portland Maine at the Sudanese feast for the children who are still in Africa. For booking and any infor please contact Bruce Wild at 207-934-7216 and you can free to contact me at 207-873-0390 or at barakaoyuru@hotmail.com.
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