Brenda was born in South Sudan.  As a toddler she, her mother, and sister fled the civil war and spent nine years in Kakuma, a UNHCR refugee camp in Kenya.  They were re-settled to the US in 2012 and re-located to Maine in 2013, when she was in seventh grade. 
After learning English Brenda had a lot she wanted to say and do.  She has sung and advocated and spoken in many different venues since then.  Recently, she has been recognized locally as a leader and social organizer.  (FMI: See Portland Press Herald article.  See Hardy Girls Healthy Women site).  Brenda works with Cultivating Community and volunteers in many capacities in the community when she is not wrapping up her high school classes and planning for college in the fall. 

Music: "Do Like That" by Korede Bello

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"

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"

Dundada means "big deal" and my guest African Dundada is making a splash as a artist/musician on the music scene in Portland, ME.  He was born in South Sudan and grew up in a refugee camp in Uganda before being resettled to the USA and finding his was to Maine in 2001. 
On this show African Dundada shares a sample of his original music ("My Girl"), invites listeners to join him at upcoming gigs (FMI click here), and spreads his good will to all.  He is joined in the studio by his friend James Swaka who contributes perspective and humor and will return as my guest for the 155th show on October 1. 

Music: Bob Marley sings "Satisfy My Soul."

Toni Bazia and Ann B. Smith return to NMS to talk about their recent trip to Malawi and South Africa.  What is true there is also true here: good, focused leadership is more productive than a scattershot approach. 
You can find them at the brand new Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center on 24 Preble St., (on the third floor) or on the web at www.projectbazia.org.  They continue to work toward access to education for children and equality for women in rural regions of Africa as well as supporting local immigrants in Maine.  Their website will also direct you to Africans United of New England, an effort to bring like-minded people together to support immigrants in this region.  Toni believes that "You see God through other people" and thus works tirelessly to serve others in need.

Music: Awesome Xylophone Quartet

Juma Andrew Ogweta is also known as DJ Onax.  His family is from South Sudan.  He grew up in Khartoum, Sudan and Cairo, Egypt before coming to Portland, ME with his uncle and two sisters when he was eleven years old.  He attended Portland Schools as he cultivated his love of music and entertainment.  He was the DJ for family and community parties before going more public.  He derives great joy from providing dance music for others to enjoy and has worked as a DJ throughout Maine as well as in AZ, GA, TN and TX.
Facebook
Soundcloud sampler
Booking an event: BookDJOnax@gmail.com

Music: VIP "Eris Allela"

Toni Bazia (originally from Wau, South Sudan) has been a guest three times before on New Mainers Speak. (NMS 28, 41, 77).  He is joined by his writing/organizing collaborator friend and retired English teacher, Ann B. Smith.  She is the host of a cable TV program on CTN5 called Perspectives, a show that explores cultural perspectives of immigrants in Portland.
Together, Bazia and Ann are passionate about helping young people and creating culturally relevant English learning materials.  The duo has written several books together, the most recent of which is called Hippo and Hoopoe.
Both Ann and Bazia are interested in South Sudanese children, as well as other young immigrants in the area.  Some of their work is visible at their organizational website called Project Bazia.  They are mentors for a club at Portland High School called Bright Future, and have recently helped the students to produce a movie about wearing hijabs.
Their next big endeavor is called Africans United of New England, building community locally among people of the African diaspora.

Music: Bob Marley sings "Africa Unite."

Kwan was originally from Leer, South Sudan and came to the US in 2002, by way of Egypt.  When given the choice of countries to move to he selected Maine, USA because of his interest in serving in the US Military. In 2009 he served in the US Army as a linguist, translating Arabic/English documents while stationed in Iraq. 

Kwan is now the Chairman of the South Sudanese Community Association of Maine (SSCAM) with a state-wide population approaching 3,000 individuals. The office is located at 500 Forest Ave, Unit 8, Portland, Maine.

As a leader Kwan helps other South Sudanese people navigate some complicated systems in Maine, such as courts, housing, school and government.  He also tries to raise awareness, wherever he goes, about the situation in South Sudan where violence is causing mass migration and strife in numbers similar to Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan. 

Music: Willie Nelson sings "More Than One Way To Cry".

John Ochira was born in Imolongo, South Sudan.  Due to the violence of the civil war he and his siblings fled to a refugee camp in Uganda where they lived for six years before coming to Maine in 2005.  Today John manages disability claims for UNUM and is the Vice Chairman for the South Sudanese Community Association of Maine. 

John speaks about how South Sudanese Immigrants contribute to the city and state economies in numerous ways.  He points out that as a group they are hard-working, pay taxes, and spend money locally. They also often own and operate businesses that may go unnoticed (convenience stores, barber shops, and services such as painting, translations, transportation, wedding planning, etc.)  And, being community-minded, South Sudanese people also frequently volunteer with non-profits for many causes, regularly engage in civic discussions, and exercise their right to vote.

People interested in learning more are invited to visit the Portland office located a 500 Forest Ave., Unit 8.

*** Correction: at 15:37 I said South Sudan has "many, many tribes, like 100." Although the number of all the tribes may reach 100 if counted thoroughly, there are only 64 which have been counted are are recognized. 

Music: Twongweno Opiyo sings "Opiyo Mwunu"