From ‘Sekil Manga’ to ‘Waja Wen’: General Paulino celebrates 40 years in music

•3 hours ago•5 min read

At 65, General Paulino, whose real name is Paulino Mesaka, has spent four decades entertaining generations of South Sudanese with his distinctive sound and memorable songs, building a musical legacy among music lovers.

The musician began his journey in Juba at the age of 16. Growing up in the residential neighbourhoods of Kator and Atlabara, he developed an interest in music through his involvement in church, where he learned to play the guitar and other musical instruments.

What started as a passion gradually grew into a lifelong career spanning 40 years, during which he has entertained audiences and built lasting friendships through music.

Paulino’s journey is also one of determination. Despite living with visual impairment, he pursued his passion and established himself as a musician, demonstrating that disability does not have to limit talent, creativity or ambition.

Speaking to Eye Radio during celebrations marking his 40th anniversary in music, Paulino described his journey as fulfilling, saying it had brought him many friends, brothers and well-wishers.

“Forty years I made friends and brothers who love me, and I thank God because the forty years were not easy. But I thank God, I overcame them,” he said.

Forty years of musical inspiration

Paulino recalled that his early musical influences came largely from groups that emerged in the 1970s, particularly the influential Rajaf Group and other bands that shaped the region’s music scene.

He said these groups inspired young musicians through their distinctive sounds, creativity and performances, helping shape the direction of music during that period.

Their influence contributed to the musical foundation on which he built his own career.

Beyond their melodies, some of General Paulino’s songs carry deeper meanings drawn from love, the beauty of South Sudan and the country’s history.

He explained that Sekil Manga, his fourth album, holds a special meaning for him, although listeners have developed different interpretations of its title. While many people interpret it as referring to a beautiful girl, Paulino said his intention was different.

He explained that the title was meant to describe South Sudan as a fertile and beautiful land, rather than a woman.

Another of his songs, Waja Wen, explores heartbreak and broken relationships among young people and couples. Paulino said the song reflects situations in which both young women and men hurt the people they love, including within relationships and marriages.

He also said the song could be understood as reflecting the suffering endured by South Sudanese during the liberation struggle.

Paulino also spoke about Walele-Walele, a song in which he describes a beautiful woman whose beauty, he says, is comparable to that of the moon.

Despite his long career, Paulino said making a living from music remains a major challenge for South Sudanese artists.

He attributed the difficulties largely to weak copyright protection and the unauthorised reproduction and sale of music in local markets, which deprive musicians of income from their creative work.

He said many artists struggle financially because they do not receive fair returns from songs they spend time and re

“Challenges are there because now, as musicians, we do songs, but they are sold in the local markets, and this is wrong. There is no copyright in South Sudan, and these are the challenges we face. That is why you find South Sudanese artists are poor,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Paulino said he has never considered abandoning music because it remains an important part of his life and a

“Despite these challenges, I did not give up because music is in my soul, and I use it during my sad moments,” he added.

The changing face of South Sudanese music

Reflecting on changes in the music industry over the years, Paulino said musical styles, content and cultural expression have evolved significantly since the early days of his career.

He recalled that audiences in the region initially listened largely to a mixture of Sudanese and Ugandan music.

However, he observed that more South Sudanese musicians are now composing and performing songs in local languages, reflecting the country’s diverse cultures, traditions and experiences.

He said the growing use of local languages has helped artists communicate messages that resonate with people’s everyday lives and cultural identities.

A call for peace and a brighter future

As he marks four decades in music, Paulino used the occasion to call on South Sudanese to embrace peace and work towards a better future.

He urged communities and authorities to replace bullets with seeds, saying the country needs peace, development and opportunities for its people.

Paulino also invited his fans and music lovers to join him on November 14 at Bross Resort in Juba to celebrate his 40 years in music. He called on his supporters to turn up and share the milestone with him.