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
advice china foreign heard policy push war
The only foreign policy advice I heard from China was when they said to Sudan, 'Don't go back to war.' That's all they said. They didn't push anything else.
beggars came knew shocked streets
I was shocked when I came to New Orleans. I never knew there were beggars on the streets here. I didn't know that there were poor people. I thought this was Heaven, you know?
amazing lyrics music problem rap writes
Rap music is amazing, it's beautiful. But the problem is the lyrics. The person who writes the lyrics - that's the problem.
music
Music moves my emotions because music loosens me up.
allow aside hunger music tragedy uplifted war
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.
anyone fighting found hard kept mentality time
When I first went to school, I was fighting all the time. The soldier mentality was still in me. I kept getting expelled. I found it hard to take instructions from anyone who wasn't a military commander.
powerful heart soul
Music is powerful. It is the only thing that can speak into your mind, your heart and your soul without your permission.
fighting soldier paper
I'm still a soldier, fighting with my pen and paper for peace till the day I cease.
challenges that-one-person chance
I am proof that one person can rise above any challenge, and if I can, then so will others if they are given the chance.
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.
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.
solutions
Education is the only solution for peace.