Emmanuel Jal: War Child- Songs of Triumph

Emmanuel Jal's "War Child" album is a wonderful and challenging group of songs that need and deserve to be heard. Emmanuel became a child soldier in Sudan at the age of eight. He spent his formative years being indoctinated to kill and to hate. Three years later he escaped with 400 other child warriors. After a 3 month journey less than twenty boys had survived. He sings about his experiences in order to deal with his inner demons as well as to compel the world to take care of its children. He is no only concerned with African children. He enters into the culture wars of today and is a voice of experience that should be listened to. He sings about the "one thing that gives him nightmares" and that one thing on the song "50 Cent" is the violent video games in which children are entertained by killing other "people". This is important coming from a person who knows the difference between real killing and video game violence. To Emmanuel Jal, human life is not expendible and should be valued and what we teach our children about life is so very important because Emmanuel knows extremely well "what this life is worth". Jal notes:

“People sing a lot before they go to war. We need to be especially careful when we’re asked to
sing any tune that’s not God’s."

I have written a few posts on Emmanuel Jal and this album. You can find them here:

War Child Movie - Emmanuel Jal

Emmanuel Jal: War Child- Three Songs to Expand Your World

Emmanuel Jal: War Child- Soul and Culture Wars

I am no expert on Emmanuel Jal and his music. I have only been listening to his music for about a week. But I did want to learn more of his backstory and I find him fascinating. I look forward to viewing his movie, and to listening to his earlier music. The stories about them seem just as interesting.

The last two songs on Emmanuel Jal's "War Child" album are both songs of victory and triumph.



On "Stronger" Emmanuel sings, "What didn't kill me/ Can only make me/ Stronger/ Stronger." He tells of his love for his home village in Sudan, where the people's smiles can be "seen from a mile". He pledges to do everything he can to help his people and he can do it because he is stronger, "This force that is in me is stronger that any force that is against me/ Watch me as I fly..." and "Irrespective of all the bad/ I found some good/ Irrespective of all the bad/ I made it through/ That's' why/ I still smile".



The last song "Emma" is a beautiful and uplifting song that pays homage to Emma McCune, the lady who rescued Emmanual Jal. He sings this song with such sincere emotion and feeling. Here is a video of Emmanual singing Emma at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday party. He is introduced by Peter Gabriel.



Here Emmanuel raps out his song "Emma"



In the song Emmanuel asks, "What would a be if Emma hadn't rescued me?" He offers many answers: "another starving refuge", someone who "might have died from starvation or some other wretched disease" or who "might have grown up with no education", and sadly and finaly he may have just been "another corpse on the African Plain". But in the end he sings, "I stand here because someone cared/ I stand here because someone dared/ I know there is a lot of other Emmas out there who are willing and trying to save the life of a child."

He was resuced by his "angel" Emma and sings "Praise God/ Praise the Almighty/ for sending an angel to rescue me/ I've got a reason for being on this earth/ cause I know more than many what this life is worth" and when he sings that he is going to "Run over mountains/ leaps and bounds" and "no one can stop me now" you just want to cheer him on! This is such an upliftinig song that when I hear it on my iPod while running I repeat it again and again.

Emma McCune the British aid worker who rescued Emmanuel when he was an 11 years old ex child soldier. She adopted him and smuggled him to Kenya. He went to school in Nairobi there. Tragically Emma died in a car accident a few months later but friends helped pay for his school education. Emma McCune is also a somewhat controversial figure herself. She ended up marrying Riek Machar, who was one of two leading southern guerrilla commanders. Her story ended up being told in a book called "Emma's War". It seems like a movie based on the book is just as controversial.


In this video Emmanuel Jal answers the question, "Who is your Hero?" He explains how Emma McCune rescued him and became his hero.



Emmanuel Jal's goal is to build a school for children Leer, Sudan, Emmanuel Jal's hometown in Emma mcCune's name as a way to say thanks to her. Here he talks about his mission.



You can find out more on the Emma Academy project at the website http://emmaacademyproject.com/

Three Views on "War Child" Emmanuel Jal

I have enjoyed learning about the life of lost boy, child soldier, hip-hop singer, author, activist, and documentary subject Emmanual Jal over the past few months. I started with learning about his music.

His music on "War Child" has been a steady companion while I am driving my car or out on a run in my iPod. I just haven't gotten tired of many of the songs.

In January I ordered the "War Child" DVD. I believe it is a must-see DVD if you want to understand the man and mission of Emmanuel Jal. It certainly makes Emmanuel Jal's life story accessable and helped me understand much about the situation in Sudan and Africa.

Last week I finally got Emmananuel Jal's biography "War Child" from Amazon. After it arrived I started reading but was disappointed when I reached page 56 and found that there was a misprinting and the book was missing over 30 pages. Amazon refunded my money and I noticed it was also taken off the site. There must have been a whole bunch of misprints. I had to run out to Borders and pick up a copy to continue reading. This book was much more eye-opening than the DVD or music. Emmanuel Jal and the people of Sudan lived through some horrifying circumstances and this book isn't for the faint of heart. Reading about Emmanuel Jal's childhood was indeed sobering. It makes the triumph of his life and music all the more sweet. I noticed that Amazon has the book back on the site, so the misprints have been dealt with.

Emmanuel Jal talks about writing his memoir "War Child" here:

Emmanuel Jal raps out "Forced to Sin" and tells his story at a Barnes and Noble in New York City.

Whether you listen to the music, watch the DVD, or read the book, "War Child" you will be mesmerized with the life story and message of Emmanuel Jal.

And here he perform "Emma".

I also started using Amazon.com to download my mp3's rather that Itunes. The first selection I made was "Gua" Emmanuel Jal's first cd. It is not as well produced as "War Child", I think Roachie (War Child's producer) adds so much to that album. but it is an album of worship music, sometimes sounding like a cross between early CCM music and hip hop music. Some of the songs are very infectious and catchy.

"Gua" was Emmanuel Jal's first cd and it is mainly about finding peace with God in his life, "Ceasefire" is a cd that he made with Abdel Gadir Salim, a muslim from Northern Sudan. They are from opposite sides of the politcal and religious worlds. In fact they were enemies on the battlefield. Of course "Ceasefire" is music of peace. I have yet to buy and download the music, but I will someday soon.

Emmanual Jal talks about his experiences as documented in his "War Child" memoir in a radio interview.

You can read some of my previous posts on Emmanuel Jal here.

Emmanuel Jal: War Child, 3 Songs to Expand Your World

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.

New Emmanuel Jal single: We Fall

Emmanuel Jal is allowing people to download his new single "We Fall" for free at EmmanuelJal.com. It is a catchy and heartfelt song like other songs by Emmanual Jal. It is a thank-you for the people who donate to Gua Africa. Emmanuel Jal's projects are aimed a arming children in Africa with an education. From someone who was armed with an AK47 when he was a child, he knows the importance of education.

Education is the only way for my country. When you don't educate the people, you're crippling them. You are, you're not giving them ways to survive. --Emmanuel Jal

You can learn more an donate here.

Here is a recent Washington Times article.

Here are previous posts I made on Emmanuel Jal.


Here is a recent and excellent CNN video from last month that talks about Jal's life, book, music, and movie. It also talks about work toward building a school for children in Sudan. The article is here.


The good news is that he has a new album coming out in 2010.

Emmanuel Jal: War Child- Soul and Culture Wars

The middle part of Emmanuel Jal's cd "War Child" deal with other battles that Emmanuel feels a part of. He is in a battle for his soul and the personal demons that haunt him (from a brutal early life as a child soldier in Sudan and a Lost Boy refuge. He also senses the cultural wars in his songs about how the world treats others based on color, social status, greed, and the images put forth in today's media and music.

"Baakiwara (I'm in another war/ This time it is my soul/ I am fighting for) is the fourth song on Emmanuel Jal's "War Child" album. This is not a song about being a child soldier as much as it is a song about the battle with the flesh and the struggle to overcome temptation (The things I want to do/ I don't do/ And the things I don't want to do/ I do/ My flesh and my spirit always fight).



"Shadow of Death" (As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death/ I fear no evil) is a song about the demons that haunt the singer and his faith that keeps him strong(As I pray to the Lord my soul to keep/ I don't have to worry about where to sleep/ The Lord is my shepherd/ and I'm his sheep).



The next song "Vagina" (To Mr. Oil, Diamond, and Gold miner, stop treating Mama Africa like a vagina. She's not your whore, not anymore. You take the riches and you leave the people poor.”] is about the rape of Africa. Emmanuel used to think the wars on his continent were for religious or ethnic reasons, but now believes it is about resources and unequal development. In an interview Emmanuel said:

“Vagina” was inspired by Blood Diamond. And also the issues in Africa, what is killing us. Gold. Diamonds. Oil. Those are the things. It's a message for both the companies and the leaders of Africa, the presidents. Because a lot of people don't know what is really going on in Africa. They don't know what is crippling Africa. So because I'm from there, I know what's going on. And this is a song that tells you the real truth. And people have to judge for themselves.

"Hai" is a song that tells about the profiling that black men face around the world.



In "No Bling" Emmanuel says he doesn't need the trappings normarly associated with rap stars to make it big. (No hos, no bitches, no bling, I don’t need none of those things / It’s only the love that I bring / representing the King of Kings / No hos, no bitches, no bling, I don’t need none of those things / I don’t need none of those things, to sell a lot of records like Sting.) It is his answer to the producers who wanted to give him an "image" so he could sell some records.



"50 Cent" is another song about western values. He sings this song to rapper 50 Cent telling him to use his fame for good and not for marketing violent video games to children (You have done enough damage selling crack cocaine/now you gotta kill a black man video game).

"Skirt Too Short" is about women dressing more modestly and it evolved from an encounter with a girl from MySpace. (You're skirts too short/ I can almost see your drawers). It is humorous and very direct.

"9th Ward" is a song dedicated to the people who perished in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He had a hard time reconciling the fact that American was spending billions of dollars to fight a war in Iraq and yet had a hard time caring for the people in their own country.

Emmanuel Jal may have grown up as a child soldier but he continues to fight for the things he believes in and he sees lots of troubling things in the world around him.

War Child Movie - Emmanuel Jal

The War Child Movie - www.warchildmovie.comHttp://www.warchildmovie.com

There is a new documentary out on rapper Emmanuel Jal called "War Child" that looks like something I would very much like to see. An album, also titled "War Child" will come out in the Spring. Emmanuel Jal is a former child soldier from southern Sudan. I don't know much about him except what I have read in some articles (see below) but I would like to hear his story of peace and healing. He escaped Sudan and became one of Sudan's Lost Boys and was then rescued by an British aid worker who tragically died in an automobile accident 8 months later. His friends collected money to keep him in boarding school. He has a an earlier album "Cease Fire" in different African languages.

My sister's family took in four of Sudan's Lost Boys a few years back and I find their stories compelling as well as the stories of Lost Boys like Lopez Lomong who ran the 1500 meters in the Seoul Olympics for the USA as well as carried the American flag in the opening ceremonies. Their stories are hard to believe and this story has a another horrific spin as Emmanuel was a child warrior before escaping Sudan. I am sure his story and life need to be listened to.


From the Washington Post:
Emmanuel Jal: A Child Of War, a Voice of Peace
A Sudanese 'Lost Boy' Hopes to Sing Away the Pain

From Newsweek:
From Sudan Child Soldier to Hip Hop Star


Here are some interesting quotes from and interview in "Church Times"

"Music itself is innocent; sound is innocent. God created music for us to worship him, and to enjoy. You have to ask, what are the words dedicated to?"

Most of my writing happens like this: the tune comes first, and the lyrics come later. Mostly it is inspired by horrific events, but I transform the energy into something positive. I’m a Christian and inspired by faith. I keep my faith to myself and get on with my work, but if people see how I live, they may look at my actions and decide for themselves.


"Being a Christian is the easiest thing: Jesus died for you. The worst part is when you try to be religious. That is when you mess things up."

"If you listen to my album you will be shocked: there’s a message there, and it’s a true story I am writing about. But there’s a song “The Shadow of Death”, which uses the Bible, “Though I walk through the shadow of death. . .”, that’s more encouraging.

I like the verse: “To all who receive him and believe in his name, he gave the right to become God’s children.” I think that’s John 1.12."

"I pray: “God give me strength, God give me wisdom. What do I say? What do I tell them?” When you’re a musician, you’re a leader. In a way, you’re a preacher. I don’t know about being a pastor. It has to come from your heart — it has to be a calling — to be a pastor. It’s a big responsibility.

How many years would I be locked in this church? If I was locked in a church with God, all I would need is a Bible, a piano, a couple of guitars. When you’ve got music and instruments, you’d not go crazy. When you sing, you’d not go crazy. When you got out, perhaps you’d be a supernatural person."

Here is a trailer for War Child (warning: scenes of war and death can be graphic)

Here is the video for the song "War Child"

"I believe I've survived for a reason to tell my story to touch lives
I believe I've survived for a reason to tell my story to touch lives
all the people struggling down there
storms only come for a while
then after a while they'll be gone
blessed, blessed

my father was working for the government as a police man
few years later a hardy joined a rebel movement that was formed to fight for freedom
I didnt understand the politics behind all this 'cause I was only a child
after a while I saw the tension rising high between the Christian and the Muslim regime
we lost our possesion
my mothers, my mothers mothers suffered depression
and because of this...I was forced to be a war child

I'm a war child
I'm a war child
I believe I've survived for a reason to tell my story to touch lives (touch lives, touch lives, touch lives, touch lives, touch lives, touch lives, touch lives)

I lost my father in this battle
my brothers
all my life I've been hiding in the jungle
the pain I'm cutting is too much to handle
whose there to please to light my candle"

A Song With a Real Purpose: Emmanuel Jal- We Want Peace

Rapper enlists global stars to work on south Sudan

Learn about Emmanuel Jal


We Want Peace

Oh yeah
Oh yeah
I’m looking for some people who’s looking for peace
Maybe together we could make the war cease
Now we can send mankind to the moon
And we can reach to the bottom of the sea
That’s why it really kind of baffles me
That we cannot end wars and bring peace
And we cannot change the way people act
And we cannot change the way people think
So if we sit back, chill out and relax
Civilization will soon be extinct
That’s why I am

[Chorus]
>I am calling on
I’m calling on the whole wide world
>On the whole wide world
Come on people would you help me
>Help me scream and shout
Let’s scream and shout coz we want peace
>That we want peace
To say the least

I dedicate this song to the common people
Caught in the middle of this common evil
I wish the world was a little bit fairer
Time we start looking at the man in the mirror
Fear is the devil's policeman
Fear made good Germans side with Hitler so he can
Build the war of genocide and havoc was wreaking
Silence of the lamb 'cause nobody was speaking
That’s why I am

[Chorus]

Somebody said, "After Rwanda
>Never again,"
And after Rwanda
>It’s happening
Not far from Rwanda
>Just next door
Who’s gonna shout for the poor people living in Darfur?
The world’s gone deaf
The world’s gone blind
The world’s busy sitting down on their behind
Nobody cares about the poor and needy
Too busy sucking up to the rich and greedy
For every hero there is villain
I ain’t kidding
We gonna shout out standing up or sitting
One more time?
We got no more time!
We got to figure out the way we could all combine
Hey!
Like Jericho the walls came tumbling down
The sound of voices had the city surround
You know what is worth
Time to put our voices to work
We got to shake down heaven and earth
That’s why I am

[Chorus]

Come on everybody, come on
Stand up, stand up, stand up
You want peace and I want peace
Stand up, stand up
You want peace and I want peace
Stand up, stand up
You want peace and I want peace
Stand up... [continued]