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Young musicians singing and dancing at Asylum Records Studio in Juba
Photo: Adrienne Surprenant / Collectif Item
Their parents fought for South Sudan's independence, and they hoped that the next generation would be able to grow up in a peaceful, independent country.
But the dream was quickly dashed.
Just two years after South Sudan split off from Sudan in 2011 following years of armed conflict, a civil war broke out in the world's youngest nation.
The country's president and vice president incited the two largest ethnicities against each other, with soldiers and militia fighters plundering villagers and perpetrating both murder and rape - with all of the violence neatly divisible along ethnic lines. At the same time, politicians, military leaders and warlords enrich themselves with dubious deals involving South Sudan's oil resources.
A peace process was launched in 2018, and since the beginning of this year, the country has been governed by a parliament that includes representatives from both the governing party and from the former rebel movement. But reconciliation has been slow. Society is still marked by deep divisions and ethnic violence repeatedly flares up. Today, South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world, with around two-thirds of its 11 million inhabitants dependent on humanitarian aid.
Despite the lack of security and the precarious economic situation in the country, a lively music scene has developed in recent years in South Sudan, mostly in the capital of Juba.
And it is one that also has a political mission.
The artists target problems afflicting the country - such as violence, corruption and poverty - but also seek to spread a sense of optimism and confidence in the future as a way of uniting society.
"Music is keeping us from fighting and killing each other," says Rasta Jimmy, who lives in Juba. The singer sees music as a powerful channel for spreading positivity and encouragement.
Traditional music and dance also help heal societal wounds that were ripped open by the civil war.
And for those who were displaced by the war or forced to flee the country, they offer a way to regain a slice of their lost identity.
Canadian photographer Adrienne Surprenant, who lives and works in the Central African Republic, took a closer look at the South Sudan music scene, photographing singers, hip-hop artists and traditional folk dancing troupes.
Click through the photo gallery to see how musicians in South Sudan are working toward creating a better future:
This piece is part of the Global Societies series.
The project runs for three years and is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Expand section What is the Global Societies series?
The Global Societies series involves journalists reporting in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe on injustices, societal challenges and sustainable development in a globalized world.
A selection of the features, analyzes, photo essays, videos and podcasts, which originally appear in DER SPIEGEL's Foreign Desk section, will also appear in the Global Societies section of DER SPIEGEL International.
The project is initially scheduled to run for three years and receives financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) is funding the project for a period of three years at a total cost of around € 2.3 million.
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Large European media outlets like the
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Has DER SPIEGEL produced similar projects in the past?
In recent years, DER SPIEGEL has complete two projects with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Journalism Center (EJC): "Expedition Beyond Tomorrow," about global sustainability goals, and the journalist refugee project "The New Arrivals," which resulted in several award-winning features.
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