Mark Otim, known by his stage name African Dundada is a South Sudanese-American hip-hop and reggae dancehall artist, whose goal is to use performance as a tool to advance a very utopian, “one love” sort of message. He also works with immigrant youth in Portland, many of whom, he says, consider him a mentor. African Dundada makes his Geno’s Rock Club debut on Friday May 4 for “Sounds of the City 2” alongside Akela Moon, and the Desperate Man’s Blues Explosion. The following interview has been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
Tell me about your upbringing and how it influenced your interest in music and performance.
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Portland based rapper and reggae-dancehall artist AFRiCAN Dundada.
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