Gordon Koang
OriginSouth Sudan
GenresAfrican Pop
Instrument(s)Thom
LabelsMusic in Exile

Gordon Koang is a blind South Sudanese musician based in Australia. He is known in South Sudan as the country's "King of Music".[1][2] Koang was already an internationally touring musician and a household name in his own country when he was forced to flee South Sudan for Uganda and then Australia. Since then, he has played and produced music in Australia and advocated for refugees. He was awarded permanent residency in Australia in 2019.[3]

In September 2022, Koang announced the forthcoming release of his second studio album, Community, scheduled for release on 11 November 2022.[3]

Biography

Koang was born in the Nile Valley in what is now South Sudan.[4][5] Koang was born blind and had few job options, but a family member introduced him to the Thom in an attempt to help him feel less lonely while his family was at work.[2][6][7] He started his musical career by playing in church in his hometown of Nasir and, in the 1990s, began writing his own music to play in the streets of Juba for crowds.[2][4][8] He became a household name in his country, having released ten albums, touring around the world, and generating a significant following on YouTube.[1]

Koang emigrated to Australia in 2012.[3]

In 2013, he was touring in Canada and returned to find South Sudan in the beginnings of a tribally based civil war. He found his home destroyed and his bank account emptied by looters. As members of the Nuer ethnic group, Koang, his wife, and their children were in danger from members of the Dinka ethnic group, and fled to Uganda. Koang then went to Australia, along with his cousin and fellow musician Paul Biel. They began the Australian asylum process, believing it would be a short process and their families would be able to join them soon. This, however, was not the case.[2][8]

Although Koang and Biel his cousin played live music around Australia, for some time before producing any new music, but then connected with Music in Exile, a non-profit organisation which helped refugee musicians in Australia.[6] They released their eleventh album, Unity, in Australia.[7] It was described as "not only a prayer for reunification with his own family – whom he hopes will be granted permission to join him soon – but also a plea on behalf of refugees everywhere"[8] and that although it touches "upon some of the darkest elements of humanity [it] ultimately points the listener in the direction of hope".[9]

Koang was awarded permanent residency in Australia in August 2019[4] and submitted paperwork to have their families join them.[8]

Music career

Koang sings in English, Arabic and Nuer, and plays a traditional Nuer stringed instrument called the tom or thom.[2][6]

His influences range from Mohammed Wardi to Rihanna.[10]

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected details
Title Details
Unity
  • Released: August 2020
  • Format: CD, LP, digital
  • Label: Music In Exile (MIE-011)
Community
  • Scheduled: 11 November 2022[3]
  • Format: CD, digital
  • Label: Music In Exile

Awards and nominations

Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. They commenced in 2005.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
Australian Music Prize 2020[11] Unity Album of the Year Nominated

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.[12][13]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2019 "Stand Up (Clap Your Hands)" Best Song Nominated [14][15]
Gordon Koang Best Male Musician Nominated
Best Solo Artist Nominated
Breakthrough Victorian Act Nominated
Best Intercultural Act Nominated
2020 Gordon Koang Best Musician Nominated [16][17]
Best Solo Act Nominated
Best Live Act Nominated
2021 Unity Best Victorian Album Nominated [18][19]
Gordon Koang Best Solo Artist Nominated
Arts Access Amplify Award (for Deaf and Disabled acts) Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 Buckley, Nick (4 September 2019). "How a South-Sudanese superstar found home in Australia with the help of an indie-punk label". The Guardian.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Donoughue, Paul (19 November 2019). "Gordon Koang, South Sudan's 'king of music', flees war and finds a fan base in Australia". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Gordon Koang Announces New Album Community and Shares Lead Single". Music Feeds. 21 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 "RESILIENT EX-SUDANESE, NOW AUSTRALIAN WORLD MUSIC LEGEND GORDON KOANG SHARES AMAZING STORY VIA "UNITY"". Glide Magazine. 12 August 2020.
  5. ↑ Jon, Pareles (17 July 2020). "Drake Clears His Throat With DJ Khaled, and 10 More New Songs -- Gordon Koang, 'South Sudan'". New York Times.
  6. 1 2 3 Garner, Marty Sartini (14 August 2020). "Gordon Koang - Unity". Pitchfork.
  7. 1 2 Fuamoli, Sosefina (10 August 2020). "A force for good: Gordon Koang spreads a message of 'Unity' on his new album". NME. Australia.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Humphries, Stephen (20 August 2020). "How South Sudan's 'king of music' beats back despair". Christian Science Monitor.
  9. ↑ Fu, Jess (13 August 2020). "ALBUM OF THE DAY: Gordon Koang, "Unity"". Bandcamp.
  10. ↑ Crawford, Anwen (February 2020). "The king in exile: Gordon Koang". The Monthly.
  11. ↑ "2020 Australian Music Prize Finalists". scenestr. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  12. ↑ "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  14. ↑ "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  15. ↑ "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  16. ↑ "Industry Awards Winners And Hall Of Fame Inductees Revealed + 2020 Music Victoria Awards Nominees Announced With Public Voting Now Open!". Music Victoria. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  17. ↑ "Sampa The Great Walks Off With a Stack of Music Victoria Awards". noise11. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  18. ↑ "Music Victoria Awards Reveals Line-up And Nominees for 2021". Noise11. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  19. ↑ "Music Victoria Awards 2021 Winners". scenestr.com.au. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
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