Ahmed Gallab’s father was politically exiled from Sudan in 1999. Gallab was 5 years old, and his family applied for asylum in the United States. His future was shaped by music as he followed his passion and not only used it to entertain, but also to increase awareness of issues that had affected him in his life.

“It’s a big part of who I am and my identity,” he said. “I speak the language, and my cultural influence is pretty connected to Sudan. A lot of what is going on has not only affected me and my family, but every Sudanese person.”

Once his family received permanent residency in the United States, Gallab returned to the East African nation to visit family annually, spending three months there every year until the age of 24.

Sudan has a history of civil wars and violence, and the mo

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