| John Frog | |
| Birth Name: | Aguek Michael Mahok Maming |
| Birth Date: | 01/01/1993 |
| Birth Place: | Turalei, Southern Sudan |
| Origin: | Turalei, South Sudan |
| Genre: | Afro Beat Hip Hop |
| Years Active: | 2014–present |
| Current Member Of: | Guondo Gang |
John Frog (born 1 January 1993) is a South Sudanese Afrobeat and Hip Hop musician. He gained recognition for his hit song "Guondo Sakit," which became popular across East Africa.
John Frog was born and raised in Turalei Payam in Warrap State of South Sudan to Mr. Michael Mahok Maming and Mrs. Akuel Manyiel Akok. Both of John Frog's parents hail from Twic Mayardit County of Warrap State where His Excellency, Salva Kiir Mayardit is from. He speaks his native language Dinka, Juba Arabic, English and Swahili.
John Frog started his educational career in the early 2000s in Turalei at St. Joseph Primary School where he completed his primary education. He later moved to Juba in 2006.
Both his parents were soldiers in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), and he was a child soldier, joining the army when he was around 10 and receiving his first firearm at 14.[1]
Because of this background, John Frog did not have a smooth path completing his education in time, due to other factors, including the civil war which denied many South Sudanese children access to quality education. However, in 2014, John joined Juba Day Senior Secondary School where he completed his South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education in 2018.
He was named Aguek, which when translated to English, means "frog", because he was a breech baby. Before embarking on his music career, he used to entertain his school colleagues and friends, often telling them he would become a big artist one day. He completed his secondary education before fully venturing into music.[2]
John Frog began his music career in the early 2010s. He rose to fame in 2018 when he release a solo single "Guondo Sakit," a phrase in Juba Arabic meaning "a common person" or "just a villager." The song's success marked his entry into the music scene and established him as one of the biggest artists in South Sudan.[3]
John Frog has collaborated with various artists across Africa. Notable collaborations include:
John Frog has been involved in a controversy with his first and former music manager, K2 (real name Koryom). K2 is credited with helping John Frog in his early music career but was later accused by Frog of using him for personal gain. Their public feud was eventually settled by K2's sister, businesswoman Achai Wiir.[6]
In 2021, he also fell out with his then manager Lucky Charm over managerial grievance. [7]
From April to May 2023, John Frog was voted among the top 10 best artists in South Sudan by fans and recognized by Eye Radio.[8]