CIVITATENSIS

King Achilla Orru Apaa-Idomo (Arts) King Achilla Orru Apaa-Idomos blindness has not deterred him from pursuing his passions. From the age of six, when he lost his sight to measles, he learned to find ways around obstacles. His life of achievement in music and community involvement is a testament to his success at moving forward with his dreams, despite the difficulties. After arriving in Canada in 1989, King Achilla needed to acquire the skills to function independently in a highly organized society. He had spent the previous four years in a refugee camp in Kenya – a way of life completely different from what he found in Canada. King Achillas scholastic record from Uganda qualified him for acceptance to Dalhousie University in the International Development program, from which he graduated in 1994. Despite the heavy academic load, he was able to start a band, Baana Afrique, in his second year of university. King Achillas music has received considerable critical acclaim for its unique blend of the African lokombe sound with rhythms and sounds of Western instruments. Since arriving in Toronto in 1995, he has toured with Baana Afrique all across Canada. In Toronto the band has played at Roy Thompson Hall, CBC Glen Gould Studio, Harbourfront, major festivals and the International Youth celebrations for the Papal visit in 2003. In January 2008 King Achilla was featured as the soloist of the year with the Royal Dutch Wind Ensemble in Amsterdam at the Concertgebouw, one of the …