SSUUNA

About the Artist

SSUUNA:   Is a dancer, percussionist, singer, songwriter, storyteller, and recording artist from Uganda with a wide range of performing experience.  Raised in a small village by grandparents, He found comfort in the Ugandan traditional music that was played at school.  As a result, his musical influence was born, thus encouraged, natured, and reinforced by his elders through proverbs, stories, songs, dances, and instrumentation.  This bestowed priceless cultural entertainment, which proved to be educational as well as alleviating of the poverty, hunger, hopelessness, and suffering that SSUUNA among millions of Ugandans experienced as a result of civil wars and political turmoil.  1988, he embraced the opportunity to further his education in the United States. He has since continued to spread the teachings of his elders through his performances, sharing with the audiences his vast experience from Uganda thus promoting authentic East African art and literature.  SSUUNA’s solo shows are not only full of energy and command undivided attention, they are educational, and captivate audiences into participation. SSUUNA’s audiences have included Organizations such the Smithsonian Museum, The world bank,  American Red Cross, National Geographic Society, The Wolf trap Foundation, Public Libraries, and over 1500 Educational Institutions in NJ, MD, DC, VA, NC, and CA (Bay area).  He has also performed at George Mason University, Howard University, Marymount University, Mount Holyoke College,  MIT, and Louisiana State--to name a few. SSUUNA released his solo debut album titled “ABAKAZI MAYINJA  in April, 2005. December 2006, He released the second album “VOICES OF WAR”  K. L.I. A Records. November 2008, He released his third album “LIFE LOVE & TIME”, (K.L.I.A Records) SSUUNA was the National Young Audiences Inc. Artisit of the year 2008! And Young  Audiences of Maryland Aritst of the year 2009! Through an exotic fusion of traditional and contemporary East African music, dance, and storytelling accompanied by traditional instruments, SSUUNA takes the audience on a crucial but delightful cultural extravaganza with a promise to experience our cultural similarities and to walk away respecting the differences.  Press:  The Beacon, SSUUNA “the Spirit of Africa!... sharing lyrics to live by” and “African songs, dance to celebrate the gift of life.”  The Washington Post,  SSUUNA’s program is “NOT YOUR TYPICAL SONG AND DANCE SHOW”   SSUUNA Short Bio:  Ssuuna is an energetic performer and recording artist from Uganda. In addition to having delighted and educated school audiences through traditional dance, drumming, singing and storytelling about life in East Africa, Ssuuna has performed at The World Bank, The Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian, and on numerous college campuses around the Nation. For more than 25 years, He has embraced the opportunity to share this cultural extravaganza by taking authentic traditional East African instruments, dances, and music into educational settings, and in the process, extending education beyond the classroom. Cross-Cultural Acceptance, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity are some of the key factors that are experientially realized through SSUUNA' s programs. In 2008, Ssuuna was awarded “Young Audiences National Artist of the Year.”  In 2009, Young Audiences of Maryland Artist of the year.