16/04/2026
Viviana James Chuai: A Biography of Love and Giving.
Written by: Yidjwok Agwet
January 2024
The artist, mother, and educator Viviana James Chuai has a rich and inspiring biography. She is a mother to generations of children and artists, and her influence and presence extend across vast and diverse geographies. Viviana was born in Malakal, in what is now Upper Nile State. She belongs to the Shilluk tribe, from the "L*l" clan, and her mother is Angelina Nyianos Agal Ador.
Young Viviana grew up in the Dengar Chufo neighborhood of Malakal and began her educational journey as a pupil at L*l Primary School, then Kodok Intermediate School, and Malakal Secondary School, before completing her academic journey at the Teachers' Training Institute in Malakal. Teacher Viviana began her teaching career in 1983—a journey that shaped the lives of those around her and her community, continuing until her honor on Saturday, January 13, 2024.
Artist Viviana has always had a musical ear, a joyful heart, and a creative energy that spreads love and peace. She found her musical inspiration, and her musical taste was formed from a very young age. She memorized the masterpieces of the giants of Shilluk vocal art, including the legends: artist John Adok, James Ajobong, artist long Akok, artist Joseph Nyaiyang, artist Othow Ayik Long, artist Chol Wa Nyalwad, and other giants.
The musical spirit of young Viviana never calmed. She always loved beauty, joy, and soulful singing that uplifts spirits. With keen insight from an early age, she saw the importance of vocal art and its role in shaping society. She was determined to play a significant and distinct role in the journey of Sudanese vocal art in general, and specifically that of the then-South.
As one of the few artists from the South at that time, Viviana did not confine her experience within narrow limits. Her artistic career was launched in 1992, beginning with the certification of her voice in Sudanese artistic and literary institutions, before strengthening her artistic presence by receiving further training in various fields. She studied vocal technique and also participated in training courses on leadership. Keen to enhance her impact and role in society through both art and education, she trained in family relations and preschool supervision. Viviana James was not just a singer; she was also an educator and founder of a kindergarten to prepare young generations for formal education. Her preschool institution was popularly known in the Shaqla Hajj neighborhood (at Rowdha Nyachan).
Viviana was committed to providing a platform for young people to express themselves by establishing a troupe consisting of children and youth, with numerous participations in festivals at the Youth and Children's Palace and other forums, alongside her commitment to professional vocal art. Viviana also mastered several national languages; she even performed songs in Bari, Nuer, and Dinka, in addition to Arabic and English.
Viviana took Shilluk-language vocal art to international horizons with the release of her first album (Wadakona Paj Myer). Notably, Professor Sebit Bandas played a major role in her career and in recording her songs during their collaboration period at the Al-Sajjana Cultural Center in Khartoum. Among other songs on the album, she produced a music video for the song "Wadakona" in Manyo County – Wadakona, a professional step to reflect art and beauty visually. Her second album, titled Feshoda, was a major turning point in her career, recorded in Damascus at Syrian National Television in collaboration with Sudan National Television. She released a third album titled Juba Giyafa.
Viviana traveled throughout Sudan for official and other occasions to: Kassala, Madani, Shendi, Kosti, Nyala, Bentiu, Juba, Aweil, Malakal, and Wau. She would not recognize any boundaries for art, nor a specific language for it. She participated in performing songs with giants of Sudanese art, including: Abdelkader Salem, artist Saif al-Jama'a, the late legend Mohamed Wardi, artist Ahmed al-Raih, Omar Ihsas, and Nada al-Qal'a.
Viviana did not neglect artists from the South. She collaborated with many South Sudanese artists, including her friend the late artist Nyankol Mithiang, Emmanuel Kembe, and artist General Poulino. She also achieved another milestone by founding the Mer (Peace) musical group. All of this while she still serves to this day in the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage, and Museums, and as Vice President of the Union of Artists in South Sudan.
Viviana is distinguished by her sharp intellect. She received invitations to host and participate in several television programs, including Asuat wa Anamil (Voices and Fingers) and Turathiyat (Heritage) with artist Al-Noor al-Jilani. She also excelled in a collective performance of the song "Aza fi Hawak" with other Sudanese artists during the oath-taking ceremony for the late Dr. John Garang as First Vice President of Sudan following the Naivasha Agreement.
Viviana expanded her presence nationally, continentally, and globally through her participation in numerous forums and her defense of public causes. She participated in the Afro-Arab Youth Conference and the Afro-Arab Child Conference (for people with special needs). She also received invitations to participate in gatherings of Arab and African artists, the gathering of intellectuals from Nile Basin countries, was a guest at the Economic Cooperation Conference for the Arab Gulf States, and several poetry gatherings in Sudan. She has made artistic and training visits to Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Switzerland, Australia, the UAE, Kenya, and Uganda.
Viviana participated in the award ceremony for Best Song of the Year organized by "Shilluk TV Around the World" and was honored in appreciation of her efforts in advancing Shilluk vocal art specifically, and at the national levels of both pre-2011 Sudan and the independent Republic of South Sudan.
The greatness of Viviana James's journey can be summarized in one phrase: "Lidho Yan" — the song written at the dawn of her artistic career in 1993, which has remained etched in the minds and hearts of many to this day. The existence of a cultural association named after her song, and the association's honoring of her, is a clear and great expression of art's power to endure through time and a reflection of Viviana's artistic journey spanning more than three decades. And we aspire for more.
By honoring her now, we honor art, beauty, motherhood, unity, peace (Mer), and continuity. We honor her work, her life story, and her great role in shaping vocal art among the Shilluk people, and South Sudanese in general.
Oh, the greatness of loss. A thousand mercies and light upon the soul of Mama fanana Nyachan James Chwoy 🤲🏾 🕊️
