Emmanuel Jal
This article is written like a encyclopedic style . (July 2013) |
Emmanuel Jal | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Jal Jok |
Born | Tonj, Democratic Republic of Sudan (today Tonj, South Sudan) | 1 January 1980
Origin | Toronto, Ontario |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupations | Political activist, singer, actor |
Instruments | Vocals |
Website | https://www.emmanueljal.com/ |
Emmanuel Jal (born Jal Jok 1 January 1980) is a
Childhood
Jal was born to a
Jal was a young child when the
Along the way however, many of the children, Jal included, were recruited by the
Jal spent several years fighting with the SPLA in Ethiopia, until war broke out there too and the child soldiers were forced back into Sudan by the fighting and joined the SPLA's efforts to fight the government in the town of
When the fighting became unbearable Jal and some other children decided to run away. They were on the move for three months, with many dying on the way, until they reached the town of Waat, which was the headquarters of a small group that had separated themselves from the main SPLA.
In Waat, Jal met
Music
With the help of a British aid worker (Emma McCune), Jal escaped into Kenya. But even that came with hardships as he lived for years in the slums. But Jal eventually stumbled upon hip-hop and discovered the genre harboured incredible power, both spiritual and political.
Through his music, Jal counts on the unity of the citizens to overcome ethnic and religious division and motivate the youth in Sudan. After escaping to Kenya, he fell in love with
He went on to produce his first album, Gua, a mix of rap in Arabic, English, Swahili, Dinka and Nuer. The symbolism of unity is expressed in the title, meaning both "peace" in Nuer and "power" in Sudanese Arabic. His lyrics illustrate the desires of the Sudanese people to return to a peaceful, independent homeland. Although the only hip hop Jal had ever listened to was American, while he was in Kenya, the beat to "Gua" is not the usual American hip hop, but rather is strongly African. The title track, also called "Gua", was a number one hit in Kenya and featured on The Rough Guide to the Music of Sudan and Help: A Day in the Life, bringing together some of Britain's best known on a CD in aid of children in conflict zones (produced by War Child).
His next single, "War Child", mixes rap with soul to produce a world music vibe. He begins with telling his story through powerful lyrics; "I'm a war child / I believe I've survived for a reason / To tell my story, to touch lives."[6] He continues the song with the narrative of his life and the pain inflicted upon him. "Written in English, Jal's second language, the new album [War-Child] may lack the poetic gymnastics of hip-hop's more fluent stars, but the plainness of the words – half-spoken, half-chanted over a mix of hip-hop and African-flavored choruses – keeps the focus on the story."[7]
His second album, Ceasefire, was released in September 2005 and includes a re-recording of "Gua". This album is a collaboration with the well known Sudanese Muslim musician
Among other places he performed at the
Jal's third album, Warchild, was released by Sonic360 Records in the UK on 12 May 2008. Jal, along with an all-star line-up featuring Amy Winehouse, Eddy Grant, Will Smith and others, performed songs at Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday concert at London's Hyde Park on 27 June 2008.
Criticized for being steered into the mainstream and entering a conformist territory of hip-hop, Emmanuel says ""I'm not turning away from the world-music audience which has supported me," Jal says. "There's still an African influence in my music. I don't try to sound American. I rap like an African, because that's what I am. In the song 'Warchild,' I say I survived for a reason: to tell my story. I believe that. I feel a responsibility to do these songs and tell the world what is happening in my country."[8]
Emmanuel Jal's album, See Me Mama, was released on 7 August 2012, via Jal's label, Gatwitch Records. See Me Mama was distributed by Universal Music Canada.
His newest album, Naath, a collaboration with his sister
Activism
Jal aims to protect the childhood of others through music. "Music is powerful. It is the only thing that can speak into your mind, your heart and your soul without your permission."[9] Asked in an interview in a New Statesman magazine article if politics and art should mix, Jal answers: "When there is a need, they should mix. In times of war, starvation, hunger and injustice, such tragedy can only be put aside if you allow yourself to be uplifted through music, film and dance. It can be used to communicate messages to the masses and create awareness, to influence the people positively. A perfect example is Bob Marley: his message is still being heard today."[10] Through his heartfelt lyrics, he opens the world up to the corruption and greed of the Sudanese government; central to the themes of his songs is the campaign for peace of opposing sides in Sudan and the clear message that children have no place in wars.
He has also passionately criticised the current state of hip hop culture in the United States. He sees hip hop as a vehicle to communicate an authentic message, rather than a space to pursue street credibility. "As well as simply being great songs, people are really getting into the lyrics, really understanding his message, and he is a great role model."[11] He has expressed concern about the message being sent by American hip-hop artists, saying "American hip hop is still entwined with gang culture, drugs, sexual violence, and greed. It's a battleground."[12] His song "50 Cent" speaks to the successful American rapper to change his violent messages, which have a destructive influence on children, as exemplified through his Bulletproof videogame. "You have done enough damage selling crack cocaine/now you got a 'kill a black man' video game/We have lost a whole generation through this lifestyle/now you want to put it in the game for a little child to play..."[13] "The Roots and Jal set the hip-hop bar higher," wrote The Washington Post in 2008.[14]
Emmanuel is a spokesman for the
A documentary about Emmanuel Jal called War Child was made in 2008 by C. Karim Chrobog and Interface Media Group. It made its international debut at the Berlin Film Festival and its North American debut at the Tribeca Film Festival, where it won the Cadillac Audience Award.[16] An autobiography under the same name was released in 2009.[17]
Despite his accomplishments in music, Jal's biggest passion is for Gua Africa, a charity that he founded. Besides building schools, the nonprofit provides scholarships for Sudanese war survivors in refugee camps, and sponsors education for children in the most deprived slum areas in Nairobi.[18][19] The organisation's main mission is to work with individuals, families, and communities that have been affected by war and poverty. Based in both Sudan and Kenya, Gua Africa focuses on providing children and young adults with an education that would otherwise be unavailable to the majority. In April 2008 Gua Africa was granted full UK charity status and also received an NGO registration in South Sudan. In April 2011 they received NGO status in Kenya. Gua Africa is also one of three beneficiary charities of Emmanuel Jal's 'Lose to Win' challenge, with the other charities being the Africa Yoga Project and MyStart. As a musician, activist and general inspirational figure Emmanuel is challenging others to "lose" something to help others less fortunate to "win". He himself will be giving up his home and living as a modern-day nomad for the duration of the challenge.[20]
Jal completed a 661-day "Lose to Win" fast to build a school in
Emmanuel Jal's most recent project is a Global Peace campaign called We Want Peace 2012. The project is a steady effort to inform the world that peace is a possibility. That genocide can be prevented through the power of music and activism. His message of peace is cleverly being promoted alongside his second studio album See Me Mama, released 2 October 2012. A percentage of the profits made from the album will of course be used to support Jal's charities.[25]
On 25–27 April 2013, Emmanuel Jal was a featured speaker at "Lessons of the Birmingham Movement: A Symposium on Youth, Activism and the Struggle for Human Rights",[26] hosted by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. Jal will discuss the role of youth activists in current human rights struggles across the globe.
In 2014 he received the Dresden Peace Prize.[27] In 2015 he launched a social enterprise The Key is E in partnership with Entrepreneur Paul Lindley .[28] The Key is E uses education and entrepreneurship, to empower Africans. And give them access to funding and mentors.[29] In 2015, the organisation launched 'The Key is E' documentary, Directed by Sebastian Thiel. This was premiered at One Young world.[30]
Discography
- Solo albums
- 2004 – Gua – Independent
- 2005 – Ceasefire – Riverboat
- 2008 – Warchild – Sonic360
- 2010 – Emmanuel Jal's 4th Studio Album
- 2012 – See Me Mama – Gatwitch Records
- 2014 – The Key – Gatwitch Records
- 2022 – Shangah – Gatwitch Records
- Collaborative albums
- 2018 - Naath, with Nyaruach - nominated for a 2019 Juno Award[31]
- Contributing artist
- 2005 – Help!: A Day in the Life – War Child
- 2005 – The Rough Guide to the Music of Sudan – World Music Network
- 2006 – Live 8 at Eden: Africa Calling – Emd Int'l
- 2007 – Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur – Amnesty International USA and Art for Amnesty
- 2010 – Sudan Votes Music Hopes – MICT
- 2010 – Sudan Votes Music Hopes REMIXED "kuar" remixes by Henrik Schwarz and Olof Dreijer (The Knife)
- 2013 – The Rough Guide to Acoustic Africa – 2013, World Music Network
Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Genre |
---|---|---|---|
2008 | War Child | Emmanuel Jal | Documentary |
2010 | Africa United | Tulu | Drama |
2014 | The Good Lie | Paul | Drama |
Book
War Child: A Child Soldier's Story. St. Martin's Press, 2009; St. Martin's Griffin, 2010 (paperback).
References
- ^ Clifford, Catherine (22 October 2018). "How this ex Sudanese child soldier was inspired by P. Diddy to become a successful hip-hop artist". CNBC. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ "Former Child Soldier Jal Uses Rap to Spread Peace". [nytimes.com]. 19 November 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2008. [dead link]
- ^ Tewksbury, Drew. "Emmanuel Jal" Flaunt magazine, May 2008. Archived 12 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Volmers, Eric. "Jal moves to a more joyful musical place; Former child soldier finds solace in hip-hop". LexisNexis. The Calgary Herald (Alberta). Retrieved 11 October 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Sudanese Survivor." The Irish Times 11 August 2006: 5. LexisNexis Academic. 8 April 2008.
- ^ Nora Boustany,"Emmanuel Jal: a Child of War, a Voice of Peace." Washington Post, 6 January 2008. 13 April 2008
- ^ Batey, Angus, "I Just Wanted to Kill."
- ProQuest 363161918.
- ^ Batey, Angus. "I Just Wanted to Kill." The Guardian 8 April 2008. 18 April 2008
- ^ Unknown, Unknown. "Emmanuel Jal". Article. New Statesman 1913–2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ^ Crilly, Rob. "Ex-Child Soldier Now Kenya's Hottest Rapper." USA Today 13 March 2005. 14 April 2008
- ^ Ireland, Corydon. "Conference Brings Out Pacific Potential of African Hip-Hop." Archived 17 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Harvard University Gazette Online 20 March 2008. 7 April 2008
- ^ "Emmanuel Jal Warchild." Archived 7 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine Sonic360. 9 April 2008(written and produced by Roachie aka Clinton A Outten)
- ^ Godfrey, Sarah (13 May 2008). "The Roots And Jal Set The Hip-Hop Bar Higher". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Call + Response". Callandresponse.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ^ "Emmanuel Jal's Story – Warchild". Warchildmovie.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ^ "War Child", Emmanuel Jal website.
- ^ "From Child Soldier to Rising Star", Emmanuel Jal website.
- ^ "Gua Africa promoting education Africa". www.gua-africa.org. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
- ^ No name, No name. "Gua Africa". 2012 Gua Africa. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ^ TEDGlobal 2009. "Emmanuel Jal: The music of a war child | Video on". Ted.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "emma academy". GUA Africa. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ^ "Causes on Facebook | Facebook". Apps.facebook.com. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ^ [1] Archived 23 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Jal, Emmanuel. "WWP 2012". WWP 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ^ "2013 Youth Symposium – BCRI". bcri.org. Archived from the original on 6 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
- ^ "Laureates – Dresden-Preis". dresdner-friedenspreis.de. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
- ^ "Emmanuel Jal & Paul Lindley: 'We talk mostly about food. He has". The Independent. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Seven Hills | Paul Lindley visits Seven Hills to talk about new venture, The Key is E". 21 August 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "One Young World Keynote". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
- ^ "Printer-Friendly Nominees & Winners". The JUNO Awards. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
External links
- Official website
- Emmanuel Jal at IMDb
- Emmanuel Jal at TED
- Page at Sonic360 Archived 10 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- War Child movie
- MTV Base Africa profile: Emmanuel Jal
- Emmanuel Jal interview by Pete Lewis, Blues & Soul (June 2008)
- Emmanuel Jal interview by Banning Eyre Archived 22 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Afropop Worldwide (August 2015)
- Flaunt magazine Emmanuel Jal feature
- Edinburgh Book Festival 2009 audio[permanent dead link]
- Emmanuel Jal – Ambassador, Africa Gathering
- Book Review: 'War Child,' by Emmanuel Jal