Earlier I wrote about wanting to see the movie on Emmanuel Jal called War Child. I did not know much about this singer but I was intrigued with his story. I have yet to see the movie, although I will buy it soon, but I did go to iTunes and buy the War Child album. I wasn't sure what to expect but I had read enough that I knew I should give it a shot (even though I have never owned a hip hop or rap album in my life!-Mike Peters singing "The Message" does not count!). I can't really judge the music, but I like the songs and hear a lot of different elements and styles in the music.
At first listen, I had my ears and heart open to whatever I heard. In particular I listened to the lyrics. I was blown away! These are songs that need to be heard. They are fresh, touching, horrific, humorous, and spot on. As I delved into the music with repeated listens I had a fear that possibly I might find the music tiring even though at first it was exhilerating. Fortunately I seem to like the music more as I go along. It has even stood my running test: I did a couple of hour runs with it in my iPod and it was good running music. Emmanuel Jal is a person worth listening to. War Child gives his view of the world. He has a lot of wisdom and insight and he deserves to be heard. Here is my take on the first three songs on "War Child".
The first song "War Child" lets you know exacly who the artist is. Emmanuel Jal is a child of Sudan who became a child soldier at the age of 8. "I’m a war child / I believe I’ve survived for a reason / To tell my story, to touch lives.” If that doesn't get your attention, I am not sure what could. A survivor like Emmanuel Jal must have a lot of things to say to this world and he does.
"EMMANUEL JAL admits that he had to tone down the lyrics on his autobiographical album Warchild. "If I told everything I've seen and done, the level of destruction would be too much, so I minimised the detail," says the former child soldier turned rapper. "I still get nightmares when I think about what happened to me. But I feel I have a duty to speak out. I want the world to hear my stories because it's reality."
The next song, a haunting tune called "Forced to Sin" tells of Emmanuel's survival "I lived with an AK-47/By my side/Slept with one eye open wide/Run/Duck/Play dead.” In order to survive he had to steal chickens and other animals for food from villages. He sings, "I knew it was rude, but we needed food." He watched his friends die. He was so hungry at one point he was tempted to try cannibalism. "But Jesus heard my cry as I was temped to eat the rotten flesh of my comrade He gave me comfort."
In relative terms, Jal was fortunate compared with most child soldiers. After fighting in two big battles in three years - armed with an AK-47 taller than himself - Jal and 400 other child soldiers deserted their posts in Ethiopia in an attempt to hike to freedom. They travelled for more than three months in the most trying conditions. Hundreds of the boys, including Jal’s best friend, starved to death. Others were ambushed by enemy forces, drowned or eaten by crocodiles. Many, remembers Jal, had to resort to cannibalism. By the time they made it to Watt in southern Sudan, there were only 16 of the original group left.“It is not something you forget,” Jal murmurs, pausing for a time. “There was a point where I almost ate my best friend because there was nothing at all for me to eat. It’s a hard feeling to describe.”
The third song is the simply beautiful reworking of Jimmy Cliff's "Many River to Cross". Gospel tinged and remembering the horrors of his past and the crossing of dangerous rivers. "They made me cross that river where the hippos and crocodiles lie in wait. They made me cross that river, Father give me strength, give me faith."
We know Emmanuel Jal has faced incredible hardships, but he looks away from a story of the Lost Boys of Sudan to the stories of children around the world." So many rivers to cross/So many standing on the right path that end up lost/ Like a boat sailing in the storm maybe its because from a young age/ Kids weren't shown right from wrong/ Blame it on society/ Blame it on the source/ of parents who marry but end up divorced/ Look, look at the life you're living kids/ Make sure you stay in school/ Get your grade with no time for giving in."
Emmanuel know troubles but he also knows the rewards of perservence in the face of difficulties. Then the song leads to a prayer. "Hush/ The Lord is my shepherd/ I shall not want/ He maketh me lie down in green pastures/ And He leadeth me besides still waters/ I pray to God to take my stress and turn my lessons into blessings/ and pray for guidance and direction/ When I'm lost I need correction/ Then I can't breathe because the fear inside of me is insecurity and negativity/ I deal with positive/ because I'm made in His image/ And I've got lots to give/ I know I'll make it through the storm/ and into victory/ Even though there's many rivers/ "
The prayer continues with a hope that Emmanuel continues to be blessed and is a blessing to others. "Bless the work of my hands/ Expand my territories/ That I might become a blessing to many/ Lord make me cross the rivers/ Like you did when you opened the Red Sea/ Lord make me cross the rivers/ Like when you turned molecules into food to eat/ The Lord is my shepherd/ I don't want to be selfish/ Just give me enough/ Enough that I shall not want/ And I'll give to others Amen/ Amen"
From a man who faced starvation, wanderings, andsith death all around him we can understand how Emmanuel would latch onto a God that could lead His people through rivers safely and feed thousands with the small basket of fish and bread. A God who is a Shepherd must be a powerful God to him.
That is only the first three songs on the album. I am still working through the lyrics as I cannot find them online so there may be some mistakes and immisions. But you get the point! There is much more to listen to and savor.
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