It is a sunny Thursday afternoon in Juba, but Kululu Elgebana the radio drama director for Life in Lulu is not feeling the heat. He settles in a brightly lit, soundproofed and air-conditioned studio, directing a recording session of a popular radio drama.
“Today, we’re recording in Arabic,” he says, pausing the session. “Each day, we record in a different language.”
The recording sessions follow intense research and work behind the scenes—when a dedicated team of writers, actors, and producers works tirelessly to create the Life in Lulu radio drama series. For this season 9, the production team is producing 40 episodes and another 40 next year for season 10. The production is done in Arabic and five other local South Sudanese languages—Toposa, Murle, Dinka, Shilluk, and Nuer. The drama series airs on 26 community radio stations across South Sudan.
“We draw inspiration from the experiences of young people in South Sudan. Our goal is to empower them with stories that reflect their realities and inspire positive change,” Dhieu Abraham Dau, commonly known by his stage name as Junior Dau, the scriptwriter, explains.
“We go through the script over and over to make sure we accurately represent all these different cultures in the stories,” adds Deng Atem, the head of production.
Life in Lulu is a BBC Media Action production with support from Norway. Set in the fictitious village of Lulu, the radio drama has captured the hearts of both young and old in South Sudan, with its compelling storylines. For over a decade, the series explored themes ranging from health, conflict, and peaceful coexistence, dispelled myths, provided trusted information, and fostered a more cohesive society.
Now, in its 11th year, the series focuses on youth engagement in civic spaces and preventing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in South Sudan—a country still resonating with the echoes of conflict and the shadows of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
One of the show's most intriguing characters is Majak, played by Richard Kandak. Majak, the hot-headed character, often antagonizes the leadership of the village.
“Adopting Majak’s character was challenging because it’s so different from my personality,” Kandak shares. “But now, I enjoy being Majak. People see Majak as a big influence, which helps them identify and address problems in their community.”
Michael Omira, who plays Iddi, a domineering payam administrator, observes, “I see many people with character traits of Iddi in our communities. This drama really helps people recognize such traits and encourages them to address these issues.”
The drama not only impacts the community but also the actors and actresses themselves.
“I used to be shy, but playing this role has boosted my confidence,” notes, Emmanuella George who plays Ellie—a budding business owner and wife.
Late last year, the Norwegian government renewed its support to BBC Media Action, which produces "Life in Lulu." The additional resources worth NOK 39.9 million (approx. USD 3.7 million), fund new episodes aimed at empowering young people, especially women and girls, to become agents of change.
Over the years, Norway’s support for Life in Lulu has surpassed NOK 98, million (approximately USD 8.9 million. The ongoing support also enhances the capacity of local radio stations to sustain their operations, provide trusted information, and create spaces for dialogue.
With about 70% of South Sudan’s population under 30, it is crucial that youth are involved in decision-making on significant issues. "Life in Lulu" has sparked important conversations and inspired change through its storytelling.
For Omira, “this drama helps the people especially leaders to look at the way they govern, and also help empower the people to speak out for their rights.”