RISE OF SOUTH SUDAN MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL SET TO TAKE OVER MELBOURNE THIS WEEKEND!

The event is a celebration of South Sudanese-Australian talent and creativity

R.O.S.S. Artists: Prez, Jacki Tut, Tebir.

This Saturday, Nostalgic Events and Bunjil Place are bringing the third annual Rise Of South Sudan (R.O.S.S.) Music and Arts Festival to Melbourne. A celebration of South Sudanese-Australian talent and creativity, the event will showcase the talents of musicians, poets, storytellers, dancers and performance artists.

Taking place at Bunjil Place in Melbourne’s South-East, Ag Johnson, Jag, PREZ, Tèbir, Jacki Tut, Mike Wang, Achai, YTS Gucciboi and Malesh P & Flexx will bring their musican stylings to the event, with poets Nyarath Gatkuoth and Flora Chol and dancer Lee also set to take to the stage. Visual artists A.costa and Mr. Unique are also set to exhibit their works to accompany the musical performances.

Launching in 2017, R.O.S.S. began in an effort to raise funds for the building of a maternal and child health hospital in South Sudan. Five years on, the event is a celebration of South Sudanese-Australians, bringing together members of the community to host an event that honours their strength and individuality, spreading the message that we are all on our own journeys, and competing with one another only brings further discourse.

"The idea for R.O.S.S. was born upon my father's return from visiting family in Ethiopia and South Sudan. He was disturbed and upset by the state of maternal and child healthcare in our communities back home. I was an optimistic 20-year-old at the time, and while I didn't know how to build a hospital, I knew I could put on an event to bring attention to the issue and raise money to go towards the cause. At this point, I proposed the idea to J.D. (R.O.S.S. 's creative director), who immediately shared my vision." Nostalgic Events director Kush K. T. Kuiy shares. "I love thinking about the origin story of R.O.S.S. because it all started so beautifully, with a bunch of very young people, sitting in my living room, talking about this dream".

J.D. adds, "We live in a competitive world, and sometimes it may feel like society has cast a powerful trick on you to constantly feel pressured to compete with one another. I like to believe that the only person we truly have to fight or face at the end of every turmoil is ourselves.”