Biography

 I am Stephen Wandu with a music name Ambassadeur Koko.

My music is a mixture of Afro, Zouk, Raggae, R&B, Rock and Lingala genre. Singing with a both big and small tone of voice and being a natural song writer, I compose all style of songs with a creative mixture with culture and this makes my music unique and totally new sound.

I am a South Sudanese from Yambio Gbudue State and originally from Azande Royal family. I am the 3rd Generation after King Gbudue of Azande Tribe.

I am the first born to late Rev. Henry Wandu and Apostle Grace Wenepai in a family of 11 children. My father had 2 wives though before he became pastor in Episcopal Church of Sudan by then.

The best quotes from my song are:

1. “Saying sorry is not cowardice but courage and wisdom”
2. “A man falls several times but still stand up”
3. “I am not looking at the barriers, am looking at my destiny”,
4. “Am not looking at the distance, am looking at the finishing line”

After deciding to serve Jesus by spreading the gospel of salvation through music, I have recorded 2 solo songs that are Ana azilu yesuwa and Secreto.I have more 2 recorded audio music Sekere and Thank you Lord that will soon be out.

Plan for career

My plan for my gospel music is to preach to the people of South Sudan and the world at large to fear God in all they do as it is written in Proverbs9:10 that “To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy one, you have understanding” I believe if human fear God in all they do and say, then we will have a world that do the will of God.

Now Secular music has overtaken the world and this generation and upcoming generation of youth are neglecting gospel music based on its style in which it flows and hence, I have a plan to record my gospel music in music style that are suitable to the youth so that my gospel message can reach people of different age group.

 I will not sing more like Church Choirs, I will sing like how secular musicians sing but the difference of my music and secular music will be the message my music carry.

Goals: to touch and change stony heart with my music so as to fish men to God.

Mission: Preach the Gospel of salvation to the people of South Sudan for peace and Reconciliation

 Objectives

1. Identify and sign contract with a Gospel Music Promotion company that would help my music reach the wider audience
2. Hire a manager who will manage all about my music
3. Shoot videos for the recorded audio music and promote them
4. Record more music based on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity among South Sudanese
5. Organize concerts accompanied by evangelizations
6. Open up an Audio and Video Production Studio
7. Groom young talents in gospel music

Background

In late 2004, Uncle Emmanuel Mbaraza, brought an initiative of recording some gospel songs. This was the first of its kind initiative of song recording among Azande. He was selecting people who had potential in singing and he selected me for my song writing skills and couples of my songs I had composed that were liked in the church.

I began singing as young as 7 years in Mboki Central Africa Republic when I joined Sunday School. I was a very shy boy and had never sung in a group before. I was inspired by fellow Sunday school like Isaac Abishai, Mbaraza Joy, Nome Naigupai, Jenifer Bangbe and Joyce Bangbe.

Slowly I started picking up and was also motivated by fellow children in the Sunday school. My Sunday School teacher Titus loved me so much and he continued giving me task to perform in church despite the fact that I was very shy.

I watched fellow colleagues like Isaac Abishai, Nome and Joyce writing and composing songs and I wondered how they composed or write song. One day I asked my Auntie Mbaraza Joy to tell me how she writes songs and she guided me on how to do that. Slowly I started practicing how to compose song based on her guidance and because I had interest and passion to become a song writer.

When I returned to Central Africa Republic, I was put as a Sunday School leader, this is when I started composing songs and teach the Sunday Schools and to my motivation, once the children sang the song in Church, people liked the song and I started hearing my composed song sang in the residential area and other churches around also picking the songs and started singing in their churches. I wrote so many songs as Sunday school leader that are famous today in South Sudan. My work with the Sunday Schools groomed young talents and young people with whom I am proud today.

When I reached Arua in 2003, I was tasked again I was given the role of Sunday school leader and based on my hard work and skills in singing in the church, that is why my uncle selected me to join his group.

We travelled to Kampala for the recording in 2004 and we were able to record our first Digital Audio and some tapes were sent to Yambio for sale. The title of the Album song Alfa & Omega was a song written by me.

The album had huge receptions and almost 10,000 of the tapes were sold as it was bought across the three countries where Azande lived.

In 2006 six based on some disagreement in the group, I formed Fire Gospel Band which lasted only for two years with two major album That are “Mbori du na oni” and “Golgotha”

In 2008, I started a solo career as Ambassadeur Koko and started singing a secular music but my music was a message for revival of Azande culture, peace, unity, advises to families, a message on HIV, advice to young people, and a call for hard work by South Sudanese to build the nation. I also sang about my father’s death in my song Bye Bye. My song Bye Bye dedicated to my late father and my mother Grace Wenepai Enosa was touching song that made people cry and it was used even for mourning the dead among the Azande.

Some of my famous songs in South Sudan were HIV/AIDS, Istakal Shedid, Freedom, Winner, Stranger and Libala.

When I begun a solo career in Music, I was completely lost from God and was more into worldly music than gospel. In 2012 while in Kampala I received a prophecy from brother Ronnie Makabai of ETM Church that God is calling me to sing for him. Similar prophecy was given by Mama Rosen in Congo and Prophet Mary Deemaku Gamboripai and Prophet Justin Nyakangba Bakindo.

As I couldn’t reject the continuous call from the Lord, I decided to abandon Secular Music and I joined Gunde Ti Mbori, a prophetic Catholic Church under Prophet Mary Deemaku where I have grown spiritually. I began singing under the Church group Called Gunde Ti Mbori Entertainment and we recorded 5 songs together with them. Given my distance away from the group due to war in South Sudan that is why I have decided to continue spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through Music.

Accomplishment

• I have recorded 3 solo albums and many other recordings with a total of 32 songs recorded
• I was among those who wrote the South Sudan National Anthem and compete in composing the National Anthem. However my tune was note selected
• My song winner made it 5 times among the top 10 songs of South Sudan on Radio Miraya a UN Radio in 2012
• I have written several famous songs to South Sudanese Musicians like Habibi by Hadia Badi a song that was famous between 2008-2010
• I have formed a refugee musical group called South Sudan United Stars, recognized under InterAid Uganda whose mission is to unit all South Sudanese musicians who are refugees in Uganda and join a voice for peace and unity in South Sudan. Under this group, we have recorded 1 group song and we were interviewed by Miraya Radio in November 2016 on this move. We have also attended and performed during Tunaweza Festival in August 2016 and the KCCA Festival in 2016.
• I was elected in 2010 as President of Western Equatoria State Artist Association and I served till 2013 before I resigned from the position to serve God and change my way of living.

Recognition

I am known in my home state Yambio and also across South Sudan despite the 3 years I have taken without being active in the music industry.

Written by Stephen Wandu/Ambassadeur Koko

Tel: +256 781 037 069/+211 955 782 777

Email: uekowandu@gmail.com

Twitter: @Kokoambassadeur

Facebook: Ambassadeur Koko