Emmanuel Jal
Emmanuel Jal
Emmanuel Jalis a South Sudanese-Canadian musician, former child soldier, and political activist. His autobiography, War Child: A Child Soldier's Story, was published in 2009...
NationalitySudanese
ProfessionActivist
Date of Birth1 January 1980
CountrySudan
boys people judging
When people know you've been a soldier, they judge you: you are a thief, a lost boy.
community used music-is
In Africa, music is for everything, Music was originally used for community. That was what music was for.
christian mum
For many Sudanese, it's for strength they choose to be Christian rather than Muslim. My mum was a Muslim but she became a Christian later.
dream sleep gun
If I sleep for more than half an hour, I get horrible dreams in which I'm firing a gun and helicopters are coming down.
boys people trying
It’s no longer about the Lost Boys. They keep trying to make their way out, then they meet other people and empathize with them. It’s a story that a lot of people are going to discover their purpose from. When someone doesn’t know their purpose, they get lost.
children soldier mind
A lot of child soldiers lose their minds.
solutions
Education is the only solution for peace.
want ordinary-people ifs
If you really kill, you don't want to talk about it.
gorillas monkeys forests
In Africa, you know, if you're poor, at least you can go to the forest and share some mangoes with the gorillas and monkey.
moving identity needs
I'm constantly seen as a 'foreigner,' and I need my passport to prove my identity, to keep moving and to carry on my work.
rap trying sound
I'm rapping in English but in an African way. I'm not trying to sound like an American.
heart cold protection
A cold heart is my protection mechanism. I don't really feel anything for anyone.
children understanding soldier
Any child soldier has to go through a lot of love, care and understanding to become normal.
years poverty aids
I grew up in poverty. For 25 years I was fed on aid.