Ajak Kwai
Australia
Born in a small town called Bor in the Malakal Region of the Upper Nile, Ajak grew up in a musical family and began singing along at all the village ceremonies and celebrations, learning the songs of her heritage.
Later on she joined a local missionary choir singing gospel music in the Dinka style. In 1992, due to religious and political unrest imposed by the current government of Sudan, Ajak was forced to leave her home and went to college in Egypt, singing in the choirs.
Spending the next 8 years in exile in Cairo, she joined international church choirs and later formed a female group called 'Bor Girls Band' that performed politics, original songs under the UN Humanitarian program.
Ajak was granted refugee status to Australia in 1998. This was a difficult time for Ajak but she used the anvil of adversity to hone her abilities.
Forging a new career that combined her cultural roots with her new life, Ajak teamed up with local world and jazz musicians including multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire, Martin Tucker.
Since then she has become a well known figure in the Australian music scene not only in her capacity as a professional musician/singer/songwriter/storyteller but is very active in raising awareness in the broader community about the needs and priorities of the Refugee communities and human rights issues.
Ajak is well known nationally for her soulful and distinctly Saharan voice which expresses heartfelt songs of love and hope for her homeland. Her deeply philosophical and global concerns are expressed in her heartfelt songs about freedom, peace, love, marriage, and ... cows, the foundation of Dinka life. Her performing style has great appeal, both visually and musically. Wherever she performs she leaves her audience spellbound.
In 2001, Ajak formed the band Wahida (Arabic for Unity). Wahida was active on Hobart's night music scene, performing her original songs in a new and vibrant Afro-Dinka blues style, with a line up including keyboards, guitar, flute, oud, and various African percussion instruments.
In 2004, she produced her debut CD Why not Peace & Love? and later in 2008 produced her second CD Come Together, featuring some of Australia's finest musicians, including Nicky Bomba, Martin Tucker, Ernie Grunner to name a few.
This CD was supported by the Australian Council Music Board and launched by Paul Petran as part of ABC’s Music Deli series.
All My Wives is a killer example of raw Aussie/Sudanese funk. Addressing the hardships of exile, the joys of love and calling for world peace. Kwai has created an exciting album that showcases her magnificent vocal range. (Seth Jordan, Limelight Magazine, August 2008).
All my wives is a humorous song based on the realities of Sudanese men having many wives. In this song Ajak challenges the norm and questions When is it the right time for a woman to have many husbands?
She sings in her native Dinka language as well as in Arabic and English.
Performance History - main appearances
2009
* Supported Tinariwen, Melbourne Arts Centre (VIC)
* Port fairy Festival (VIC)
* Multicultural Festival, Federation Square (VIC)
* Black Harmony Gathering (VIC)
* Australia Day, Big Day Out umbrella event, Federation Square (VIC)
* Taste of Tasmania (TAS)
2008
* ABC Radio Music Deli CD Launch Come Together (VIC)
* Melbourne Fringe Festival performance in Trent McCarthy’s “Turning Sudanese†(VIC)
* International Comedy Festival with Trent McCarthy for “Who is Abdula Smith?â€(VIC)
* Globe to Globe Festival (VIC)
2007
* Melbourne international arts festival/ new series.
* Woodford Festival (QLD)
* Brunswick Music Festival (VIC)
* Emerge Festival (VIC)
2006
* KULTOUR Australia Council touring program, concerts in Fremantle, Darwin, Katherine, Tenant Creek, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Melbourne
* Boite World Music Cafe North Fitzroy, Box Hill (Vic)
* Bendigo Conference: Music, Community, Justice: Australian Sounds (speaking engagement)(Vic)
* Melbourne International Festival Second Home Series
2005
* Byron Bay (NSW)
* Melbourne, Boite World Music Cafe North Fitzroy (Vic)
* Melbourne, Thursday�s Children Community Choir (workshop) (Vic)
* Azadi, Melbourne Millennium Chorus Concert, Hamer Hall (Vic)
2004
* Ten Days on the Island (TAS)
* National Folk Festival in Canberra with critical acclaim (ACT)
* Byron Bay concert with invitation back next March 2005 from Ku Promotions (NSW)
* Bellingen Folk Festival (NSW).
2003
* Schools performances and workshops.
2002
* Flight, Melbourne Millennium Chorus Concert, Melbourne Concert Hall (Vic)
2001
* Apollo Bay Festival (Vic)
* Maldon Folk Festival (Vic)
* International Women�s Day (Tas)
* Cygnet Folk Festival (Tas)
* Multicultural Ball (Tas)
* Summer Festival (Tas)
