Emmanuel Jal: A War Child’s Redemption Story

Emmanuel Jal is an inspirational figure to anyone who has heard any of his music, read his book War Child, or have simply spoken with him. The captivating individual has a unique story of pain, bloodshed, and tears but also his story is a redemption story. It is also a story that is filled with hope, activism, and love for mankind.

Emmanuel Jal is a Sudan native born during the civil unrest of the 1980’s. During his speech on TED.com he accounts how the war burned down his village and claim the lives of most of his family.  At the young age of 7 he was swept up into the Sudanese rebel army, where for 5 years of being a child soldier he was a part of 2 civil wars. Out of a group of 400 soldiers who escaped from the army, Emmanuel was one of 16 survivors who did not fall to starvation, ambush, and animal attacks.

An enthralling moment in Emmanuel’s speech is when he performs a poem describing his feelings and experiences in the war. The poem details avoiding cannibalism and eating the rotting flesh of dead comrades; he resorted to eating snails, vultures, and snakes to survive. 

The turning point in Emmanuel’s life was when he began to use the power of music. Music was his outlet for the world to see his difficult past and also the message of hope, describing the beauty of life and peace. At the end of his speech, Emmanuel performs the hit song “Emma”, a song dedicated to Emma McCune, the British aid worker who adopted him and gave him a second chance at life. The powerful lyrics such as “What would I be if Emma never rescued me / What would I be another starving refugee” exposes an emotional truthfulness he shares with the listeners.

Some of the world’s top musicians have already noticed the powerful message in Emmanuel’s music. Alicia Keys, the world-renowned singer has collaborated with him, as well as other artists such as Will Smith, Eddie Grant, and the late Amy Winehouse. He has also received praised from fellow musician Peter Gabriel, who called Emmanuel an artist “with the potential of a young Bob Marley.” He recently released his album See Me Mama a few weeks ago on October 2^nd, which includes the touching single We Want Peace.

Furthermore, what makes Emmanuel an even more powerful individual is his service to his homeland. He is the founder of the charity Gua Africa. Gua (which means peace in Nuer, a Sudanese tribal language) Africa is focused on working with individuals, families, and communities to overcome the tragedies of war and poverty. The charity also focuses on providing education to children and young adults who would normally not have the opportunities to educate themselves. 

This emerging star is well on his way to becoming something phenomenal on the international stage. Whether through his emotional lyrics of his destructive past and the prosperous message of hope for the future or his charity work for his fellow African brothers and sisters, Emmanuel Jal is living a redemption story that will inspire all who will soon learn of him. Personally, after hearing his speech on TED.com and learning more about him, I am inspired to always promote truth, love, and prosperity throughout the music industry. It is messages like this that makes music so compelling and a source of comfort for so many.