Category: Uganda

163 Africa Dundada and James Swaka

12/24/2017

James Swaka and African Dundada returned to NMS to talk about Christmas traditions in Africa and America. You may recognize their voices from the Thanksgiving special last month or from their individual interview in Sept and Oct 2017. They are a jovial pair and they tell mostly-Christmas-related stories from their childhoods in South Sudan and Uganda.
***There was a recording error and the first 10 minutes of the interview were cut off. If you would like to hear the entire interview, (for the next five weeks) you can click here: WMPG's archives. (Select "Dec 24th," toward the bottom).
African Dundada gives everyone a "Shout Out" for a Merry Christmas, everywhere.

Music: "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer"

nms_163_african_dundada_and_james_swaka_christmas_special_dec_24_2017.mp3
File Size:	18481 kb
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155 James Swaka

10/1/2017

James was born in South Sudan and was orphaned at age three. He was raised in Uganda at his aunt's Catholic mission school where he learned English. At 15 he went to Kenya's refugee camp where he got documents to come the the USA. He arrived in 1995 as a 16 year old.
After three years of working and going to school he heard about a "utopian" society--the US military. He joined the Marine Corps where he served as a helicopter mechanic from 1998-2006. His buddies loved his stories and thought he was funny and encouraged him to become a comedian.
Now James does stand up comedy at Empire and other area open mic and comedy nights. He values contributing to community because he feels he was raised by the community and wants to offer something back. He is also a worker, father, husband, landlord, and friend to many and lives in the Biddeford area.

Music: Chameleone sings "Double Trouble"

nms_155_james_swaka_south_sudan_october_1_2017.mp3
File Size:	29936 kb
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011 John Abore

5/11/2014

John Abore is originally from Sudan (now South Sudan) and escaped the violence and impending war by retreating with his grandparents to a refugee camp in Uganda at the age of 5. He grew up in difficult conditions but was allowed to study at the local high school on scholarship and began university in Uganda before coming Maine in 2004. Once here, John completed his undergraduate degree and is now working to finish a masters degree in Public Health. His dream is to get a Ph.D. in Public Health and then take his knowledge back to South Sudan to help create better hospitals and health delivery systems for the people of this newly formed country (2011).
John and his wife raise their three young children on Munjoy Hill. He works for the Portland Public Schools as an Acholi translator and cultural broker throughout the district helping new families to assimilate to the vastly different culture here.
*Note of clarification: John intended to say Sudan was run by Egyptian Administration under British rule, not Ethiopian rule.

nms_011_john_abore.mp3
File Size:	26409 kb
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163 Africa Dundada and James Swaka

155 James Swaka

011 John Abore

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