Apwoyo

Cung

Akello is a Ugandan world music and contemporary performer, singer-songwriter who sings in most popular East African languages like Swahili, Luganda, English and Acholi, her mother tongue. She hails from Northern Uganda, an area that has gone through years of war with the infamous Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group. 

Many lives were lost, several families were forced to move into refugee camps and her family was forced to flee and find safety in the suburbs of the country’s capital, Kampala. Akello debuted her singing career with a song entitled “Wan Wilobo” which is Acholi for “we are the world”. A song that tells the story of the Acholi women, who braved a 25-year long civil war tasked with the responsibility of holding the home together despite the fact that the world seemed to be crumbling around them. 

Despite a background loomed over by a dark memory, Akello penned songs of love and thanksgiving, and looked to spread the spirit of togetherness, love, hope and utter happiness, traits affiliated to the African. 
As a voice of hope and love, her music reflects on many life changing stories as well as important global issues. She sings to inspire, educate, unite and empower communities.