As western music takes the place of the traditional arts in South Sudan, family names are too being lost in the process. The young men and women exploiting the emerging entertainment industry choose western influenced songs and aliases such Dan Joyling or 40 J as their preferred names.

“Our fathers didn’t give us this chance to be in music,” said Jol Garang Jol, alias Dan Joyling, the head of the South Sudanese musicians association in Uganda.
“They say that if you are an artist, perhaps you are somebody who is spoiled….and afterwards, when you become known, then the family will like what you are doing,” he added.

In an interview with the Sudan Tribune, Joyling said he is no longer concerned about telling his family about his career choice, now that he is succeeding.