This week we feature Aluel Manyiel Rou, also known by stage name as Lavala Vela. She’s a 25-year-old rising female singer who has defied odds to record over 55 songs.

The music prodigy aspires to take her music to the next level to inspire fellow young girls who became captives of cultural and gender discrimination. She spoke to Boka Jr of The City Review and below is the full transcript:

BOKA Jr: Thank you for creating time to speak to The City Review. Briefly, tell us, who is Lavala Vela?

Lavala Vela: My real name is Aluel Minyiel Rou from Abyei. I was born in Abyei on 1996 August 30.

I left Abyei when I was 3 years and went to Turalei (Twic Mayardit) by the year 2005.

We lost our father so mum took us to Anet where her family was based. Mum took us to Kampala in 2007 and I did my primary and high schools. I went to Nairobi and finished university in 2018.

BOKA Jr: When and how did you discover your musical talent?

Lavala Vela: I loved music. I remember the early days in St. Joseph (Turalei) I was really young to an extent I was not allowed to attend school but I would go to listen to school songs and I mastered them as young as I was. I ended up being the choir leader at school. At the same time in my primary and high schools in Kampala, I was the choir mistress and by the year 2018, I realised I was into music.

BOKA Jr: Who are your role models in music?

Lavala Vela: My dad will always be my role model. This is the man whose music has inspired me from my childhood to date. Musicians like the late Nyankol, John Kudusay, Johnson Jok Lal, among others are the musicians whose music I look up to daily.

BOKA Jr: What was your first song?

Lavala Vela: My first song was called Panda Abyei produced by Miyen Kuol in Egypt.

BOKA Jr: What did your parents, relatives and friends say when you started your music?

Lavala Vela: Well, my whole family was supportive of my music because they knew I wasn’t forging it. They knew it was a gift from my dad and they believed in my music the first time they listened, they knew the girl they raised.  

BOKA Jr: What is that weird perception that female artists have to grapple with?

Lavala Vela: The difference between male and female artists is that people think all female artists are prostitutes. It is in most people’s mindset that being a female artist means you are spoilt and that should be stopped; we are also talented and not everyone does bad things.

BOKA Jr: Do you remember your first show, and how was it, how did you feel to be on the stage for the first time?

Lavala Vela: My first performance was in Kenya in 2018 at KICC in Nairobi during Mr and Mrs STA in Nairobi. It was an honour. The people showed me love but I was so scared.

BOKA Jr: Perhaps someone may ask: why music?

Lavala Vela: Well, music is therapy for me. Before I became a musician, I listened to music a lot especially when I was sad or stressed. When I became a musician, I now compose songs according to my moods; I love music too much.

BOKA Jr: Do you have someone like a manager or promoter helping you to let your music grow?

Lavala Vela: Well, to be honest, I don’t have a manager or a promoter. I do my things single-handedly.

BOKA Jr: How many songs and videos do you have so far, which song or video is the best and why?

Lavala Vela: I have 55 songs so far. I do not have any videos yet but I am planning to do big things early next year.  I love a song titled Mamadie because it explains what my mum went through to raise us and how strong she has been since day one to date.

BOKA Jr: Does music pay you? Tell us, please?

Lavala Vela: No, to me it is not a good business. I have been in the music industry for three years now and things are still hard. Someone will just call me, ‘Lavala I need a wedding song and I swear I am too broke, please do it and I will pay you, I will sing and I will never disturb the person to pay.

BOKA Jr: What are the main challenges that you are facing as a female artist?

Lavala Vela: Personally, I am facing a lot of challenges. A lot of people think someone is a b***h when doing music so every man will want to sleep with you. If you ask for any help from someone, they will want to sleep with you before anything.

 I have also faced a problem of lack of jobs, people be like, why do you want to work yet you are a musician? You are making money and a lot of stories. I do music because of the too much love I have for it.

BOKA Jr: What can you say to encourage other aspiring female musicians not to hide their talents because of fear and restrictions by parents?

Lavala Vela: They should go for what they love as long as they believe they are talented. Find your way out and do your best to be accepted by everyone around you. They don’t need to do violence so they are allowed; they instead need to please their families by giving them the best music till they believe you.