Mun Awng
Encyclopedia
Mun Awng, b. 1960, is a Kachin singer, song writer and pro-democracy activist. Awng was born in the Kachin State in north of Burma to a small Christian
minority. His Christian name was Dennis Daws, a name he later changed. Awng became a popular singer and musician in Burma during the 1980s. Due to having participated in the wave of anti-government demonstrations in 1988, that resulted in more than 3,000 dead civilians, he was forced to leave Burma and has been living in exile in Eidsvoll
, Norway
since. He fled to Norway to work with the opposition Democratic Voice of Burma
radio and television broadcaster. From abroad he continued to release albums and activists sang his songs while facing down the military in both the 1996, and the 2007 anti-government
street protests. Awng is considered a "subversive element" by the military junta in Burma.
, Awng managed to produce one album a year in Burma. He occasionally performs his music for Burmese exiles in other countries.
. Together with well known pop stars such as U2
, Avril Lavigne
, Talib Kweli
and more they created an album dedicated to the famous Burmese democracy
activist Aung San Suu Kyi
. Awng penned the album's final cut with his "Tempest of Blood".
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
minority. His Christian name was Dennis Daws, a name he later changed. Awng became a popular singer and musician in Burma during the 1980s. Due to having participated in the wave of anti-government demonstrations in 1988, that resulted in more than 3,000 dead civilians, he was forced to leave Burma and has been living in exile in Eidsvoll
Eidsvoll
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. It is part of the Romerike traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Sundet.-Name:...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
since. He fled to Norway to work with the opposition Democratic Voice of Burma
Democratic Voice of Burma
The Democratic Voice of Burma is a non-profit media organization based in Oslo, Norway. Run by Burmese expatriates, it makes radio and television broadcasts aimed at providing uncensored news and information about Burma , the country's military regime, and its political opposition.In July 1992,...
radio and television broadcaster. From abroad he continued to release albums and activists sang his songs while facing down the military in both the 1996, and the 2007 anti-government
2007 Burmese anti-government protests
The 2007 Burmese anti-government protests were a series of anti-government protests that started in Burma on 15 August 2007...
street protests. Awng is considered a "subversive element" by the military junta in Burma.
Music
Awng's music is a mix of Western style rock music and east Asian ballads. Since he flew into exile he has not produced more than two albums in the last fourteen years. Even under the scrutiny of the notorious censorship board, the Press Scrutiny BoardPress Scrutiny and Registration Division
The Press Scrutiny and Registration Division is a division under the Ministry of Information, responsible for censorship of media in Burma today. Its current director is Major Tint Swe. PSRD censors all forms of media, ranging from publications such as newspapers and magazines and other published...
, Awng managed to produce one album a year in Burma. He occasionally performs his music for Burmese exiles in other countries.
For The Lady
In 2004 Awng was part of a musical project to raise funds for the US campaign for Democracy in BurmaU.S. Campaign for Burma
The United States Campaign for Burma is a U.S.-based membership organization dedicated to empowering grassroots activists around the world to bring about an end to the military dictatorship in Burma...
. Together with well known pop stars such as U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
, Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
and more they created an album dedicated to the famous Burmese democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
activist Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
. Awng penned the album's final cut with his "Tempest of Blood".