At just 24 years of age, guitarist and producer Eyobo Richard from Western Equatoria is a force to be reckoned with. So deep is his love for music that this young student from the Catholic University of South Sudan already owns one of the few local studios where he produces music for his community. Eyobo admits his studio is a simple place, but like any true artist, he believes that the most important thing is the quality of music he makes and the message he delivers to his listeners.

What made you decide to become a musician?

Music is my gift. I didn’t learn it in school but from people around me. When I was 10, I started learning one of our traditional South Sudanese instruments, the segiru/adunga in my village Gangura. A while later I moved to the guitar and so began my love affair with the six-string. I can spend hours by myself strumming, composing, losing myself in the music. I had no formal training and I can only say that my natural ability with the guitar is God-given. I don’t just make music to eke out a living; I do it to fill myself and the entire community with joy and rapture.

Were your family and friends supportive of your career choice and what challenges have you faced so far? How have you overcome these?

I think everybody in my family understands that music is my calling. It even helps me be a better student. I don’t have any mentor as such, but I know that the notes I make with my hands are the only thing that will give me the best shot at living a meaningful, productive life.

What motivates you to use your talent to advocate for peace? Can you give us an example of the positive impact/reactions you have got from people?

Making music is all about peace. You can’t be an angry, violent person if you are a musician. Art is about creativity and love. Not about war. I believe my role is to make music for peace, I produce songs that speak about the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence. We need to come together, stop fighting and usher in development across South Sudan. That’s the message in all the music I make. Many of my songs are in local languages that aren’t understood by everybody. But my fans play them on a loop; even without words, music is powerful.

Why is it important for young people to be actively involved in politics and speak up on issues that impact them directly?

As young people, we need to immerse ourselves in the decision-making processes of our country. We need to be informed enough to speak truth to power and embrace forgiveness. If we don’t forget the past, we shall continue killing each other. I personally lost two of my uncles during the civil war. I know the people who were responsible for their deaths but I forgave them and even recorded a song for them in my studio. We cannot move forward if we dwell in the past and we need our country to progress, develop.

What do you feel your country needs most at this moment in time and why?

We must give peace a chance to have economic stability for our people and our land to prosper. We are surrounded by lush, fertile lands but we cannot move out of towns to farm them for fear of attacks. With durable peace and security, we can make our country into paradise.

 If you had a message for the youth of South Sudan, what would it be?

My brothers and sisters, let us complete our education and not fight each other but embrace love and unity.