Orupaap means “Son of Nature” or “Son of the Jungle” in the Anywak language of Southern Sudan. The name Orupaap was used due to the fact that the origin of arts is related to nature, where humans used music and dance in their social life by benefiting from sounds and other combinations emanating from nature.
Orupaap was established in 1987 by Stephen Affear in Omdurman Catholic Church, Sudan, during the Church activities in Abu Saed Center in Omdurman. Orupaap group from the start was targeting the IDPs camps inhabited by different ethnic groups, who are originally from marginalized areas of the Sudan (Southern Sudan, Nuba mountains, Eastern Sudan, Blue Nile and Darfur). The major ethnic groups in the IDPs camps are Dinka, Nuer, Bari, Four, Gomoz, Shulluk. Training talented and gifted children in the areas of folklore, dance and playing the traditional instruments of these ethnic groups is central to the OAPAI philosophy.
Group Members
Artsitic Leader – Mr. Stephen Affear Ochalla
Mr. Stephen Affear Ochalla, the choreographer of Orupaap, trained at trained at Fontys Dance Academy in Holland, and havin performed contemporary and traditional African dance and music around the world, he is more than qualified to lead his trainees through a set of warm up exercises and into the various dances. Special a blend of Sudanese, African and contemporary moves.children and their abilities in the field of dancing and playing musical instrumentals.
- Stephen Affear Ochalla
- Justin James Bake
- Oguoy David Gala Sror
- Hayat Gassem Omar Hassan
- Safa Osman Awad Bilal
- Dut Theingath Aujeth Deara
- Akuie Benjamin Mojok Ador
- Iyman Yassir Akmlam
- Anthony Dominic James Tambo
- Issam Ahmed Abdal Hafıez
- George Evansohıde
- Chan Wolbolmadut
Their Music
Given past experience in playing drums, the idea was to introduce a new flavor in playing drums in the Catholic Church rituals, especially in carnivals and the hymn competitions organized by the liturgy Office of Khartoum Cathedral. The idea developed to drum language rather than drum play by using a new way known by the musicians as Solo-play.
Orupaap uses several percussion instruments which are special for differant ethnic groups.
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