DyspOra

Gabriel Erjok Majer Akon (born 1994), known professionally as DyspOra (pronounced "die-spora"), is a South Sudanese-born Australian rapper and activist. He is the founder of the music collective and independent record label Playback 808, and released the 8-track EP, The AustrAlien, in partnership with the not-for-profit organisation Music in Exile in April 2020, after a series of singles and shorter collaborations. He calls his brand of hip hop "Sonic Activism", as he uses his music as a tool to influence social change.

Early life Born around 1994 Attending school in Adelaide, he wrote poetry, and soon became a socially-conscious rapper called DyspOra. and later (around 2017) as a record label.

In January 2019 Akon released "The One Freestyle", in which he takes aim at Australian police and the vilification of Sudanese people in Australia. He thinks that racism, as something which he and his loved ones experience constantly, is not being addressed with enough urgency in Australia, and believes in the power of music to influence people.

On 17 April 2020, Akon released his first EP, The AustrAlien, on all platforms, after a preview on Triple J. The 8-track mini-album was produced in partnership with the not-for-profit organisation Music in Exile (which showcases refugee and migrant artists

Community work and activism Akon calls his brand of hip hop "Sonic Activism", as he uses his music as a tool to influence social change.

His community work includes giving his time to helping disadvantaged young people in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, running weekly music sessions for up to 70 people at Northern Sound System in Elizabeth. With the live sessions interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, Akon helped to supply the young musicians with microphones, and has kept in touch using Zoom video chat. He has proven an inspiration to young artists such as Kaye Lou and Phylo.

He is an ambassador for the Timpir Foundation, an organisation he founded himself to provide education to more than 1,400 children in South Sudan and in refugee camps in Kenya.

Discography Extended plays Title Details AustrAlien Released: April 2020 Label: Music in Exile Format: DD, streaming

Singles Year Title Album "Blood of My Blood (B.O.M.B.)" 2018 AustrAlien "Open Wide" "808 Star" 2019 "AustrAlien" 2020

Recognition and awards The South Australian Music Awards (previously known as the Fowler's Live Music Awards) are annual awards that exist to recognise, promote and celebrate excellence in the South Australian contemporary music industry. They commenced in 2012. DyspOra won Best Male Artist in 2017.

Akon received the Youth Award for 2018 at the Governor's Multicultural Awards in South Australia in 2019, for his "outstanding youth and community work for the local and international community".

Akon was a state finalist in the 2020 Young Australian of the Year awards and was also nominated for the Channel 7 Young Achievers awards in the same year.