Emmanuel Jal, Sudanese Child Soldier Turned Rapper,
Tells Extraordinary Story on New Album, "Warchild"
Feature Documentary, Autobiography, In the Works
'Warchild' – Album
released Monday 12th May 2008
'Warchild' - Digital Download Single
released Monday 7th April 2008
Musician/songwriter/rapper Emmanuel Jal has one of the most extraordinary life-stories you'll ever hear, and has incorporated his experiences on Warchild, his brand new album due out May 12, 2008 (Sonic360/ADA Global). Warchild, recorded in London between 2006 and 2007, was mixed and additionally produced by Grammy winner Neal Pogue (Outkast,Talib Kweli,Stevie Wonder, TLC), and produced by UK-based writer/producer Roachie who co-wrote most of the 13 songs with Jal. 2 songs were produced by UK writer/producer Silvastone (Sway, Blak Twang).
In addition, a full-length documentary on Jal's life, entitled War Child, had its world premiere on February 10 at the Berlin Film Festival, and his autobiography will be published by St. Martin's Press late this year.
Emmanuel Jal was born in war-torn Sudan, and while he doesn't know exactly when, he believes it was in the early 1980s. He was taken from his family home in 1987 when he was six or seven years old, and sent to fight with the rebel army in Sudan's bloody civil war. For nearly five years, he was a "child warrior," put into battle carrying an AK-47 that was taller than he was.
By the time he was 13, he was a veteran of two civil wars and had seen hundreds of his fellow child soldiers reduced to taking unspeakable measures as they struggled to survive on the killing fields of Southern Sudan. After a series of harrowing events, he was rescued by a British aid worker who smuggled him into Nairobi to raise him as her own. To help ease the pain of what he had experienced, Emmanuel started singing. In 2005, he released his first album, Gua ("peace" in his native Nuer tongue), with the title track broadcast across Africa over the BBC and becoming a number one hit in Kenya. Gua also earned him a spot on Bob Geldof's "Live 8" concert in the UK.
The inspirations for the 13 songs on Warchild are rooted in Jal's impossible past. In Forced to Sin, Jal recounts, "I lived with an AK-47/By my side/Slept with one eye open wide/Run/Duck/Play dead." His love and loyalty for his homeland of Sudan shines in Stronger - "I pledge allegiance/To My Motherland/That I'll do everything possible/To make a stand/Yes I can." Jal pleads with rapper 50 Cent on 50 Cent to be a better role model for his young fans: "You have done enough damage selling crack cocaine/now you got a kill a black man video game/We have lost a whole generation through this lifestyle/now you want to put it in the game for a little child to play..."
From the CD's title track Warchild, "I'm a war child/I believe I've survived for a reason/to tell my story/to touch lives." And, Emma, the album's closer, is a heartbreaking tribute to Emma McCune, the "angel" who rescued Emmanuel.
McCune, who died in 1993 in a car accident in Nairobi, was the subject of a book, "Emma's War," by Deborah Scroggins, and producer Tony Scott ("TheAssassinationof Jesse James," "Top Gun") is in pre-production on a film based on the book.
"This one goes to Emma McCune/Angel to the rescue one afternoon/I'm here because you rescued me/I'm proud to carry your legacy/Thank you/Bless you R I Peace." |
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Prior to the recording of Warchild, Emmanuel's music has been heard alongside Coldplay, Gorillaz, and Radiohead on the fundraising album Warchild - Help a Day in the Life, on John Lennon's Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur, on the TV series' ER "Out of Africa" episodes, and most recently in the film Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Jal plans to support the release of Warchild with selected dates in the UK, Europe and North America; details will be announced shortly. In addition, he frequently speaks on college campus about his experiences in an effort to raise awareness of and halt the inhumane treatment of children in Sudan. "I believe I've survived for a reason," says Jal in Warchild. "To tell my story, to touch lives."
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'Warchild'
Digital Download Single
Release date: 7th April 08
WARCHILD
(E.Jal, C.Outten)
I believe I have survived for a reason
To tell my story to touch lives
I believe I have survived for a reason
To tell my story to touch lives
All people struggling down there
Storms only come for a while
Then after a while they'll be gone
Bless Bless
My father was working for the government
As a policeman
A few years later
I heard he joined a rebel movement
That was formed to fight for freedom
I didn't understand the politics behind all this
Coz I was only a child
After a while I saw the tension rising high
Between the Christian and the Muslim regimes
We lost our possessions
My mother, my mother's mother
Suffered depression
And because of this
I was forced to be a Warchild
I'm a Warchild
Ana gi kore korea, ana gi kore korea, kore korea, kore korea
I'm a Warchild
Ana gi kore korea, ana gi kore korea, kore korea, kore korea
I believe I have survived for a reason
To tell my story, to touch lives
I lost my father and mother in this battle
My brothers too perished in this struggle
All my life I've been hiding in the jungle
The pain I'm carrying
Is too much to handle
Who's there please to light up my candle?
Is there anyone to hear my cry?
Here I am pale and dry
Mbwona leaders wanna wonder why
Na watototo Kule wanna die
Hakuna Mutu mwenye wana care
Our shame is everywhere
In our pain watu wanna gain
Wanna pray to maintain...
Wanna pray tu to maintain wanna pray tu to maintain
I'm a Warchild
Ana gi kore korea, ana gi kore korea, kore korea, kore korea
I'm a Warchild
Ana gi kore korea, ana gi kore korea, kore korea, kore korea
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EMMANUEL JAL – Biography
Emmanuel Jal has won worldwide acclaim for his unique style of hip hop with its message of peace and reconciliation born out of his experiences as a child soldier in Sudan. Emmanuel was taken from his family home in 1987, when he was just seven years old, and sent to fight with the rebel army in Sudan's bloody civil war. For nearly five years Emmanuel was put into battle carrying an AK-47 that was taller than himself. He was sent to war in Ethiopia and southern Sudan; one of thousands of children taken from their homes to fight.
His music can be heard alongside Coldplay, Gorillaz, and Radiohead on the fundraising ‘Warchild - Help a Day in the Life’ album, as well as in three ER episodes, the National Geographic documentary God Grew Tired of Us, and more recently in the feature film Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio. As well as on John Lennons ‘Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur’ amongst the likes of U2, REM and Lenny Kravitz.
Jal recently performed at an exclusive gig for Oxfam with Fat Boy Slim as part of Oxjam 07; he also took part in his charity, Gua Africa’s, Mixed Jam event with Blak Twang amongst others in London. (all footage can be found on www.youtube.com/emmanueljal) Jal has also performed with Razorlight, Supergrass, and Faithless in Europe. Last October Emmanuel toured the United States as part of the National Geographic All Roads Film Festival, in which he performed in New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and New Orleans. Jal also performed with Moby and Five for Fighting in the 2007 live concert film, The Concert To End Slavery (www.concerttoendslavery.com/trailer).
Jeff Frasco from C.A.A. has just taken on Jal for global representation for concerts, and Jal has a full-length documentary on his life and times due for spring 2008 release. His autobiography has been sold to St. Martin’s Press with anticipated release of late summer 2008. His new album 'Warchild' is due for release in the UK 12th May 2008 on the Sonic360 label (distribution by ADA Global) with additional production and mix by Neal Pogue, (Outkast, Talib Kweli, Pharohae Monch). |
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Peter Noble • Tracy Gosling @ Peter Noble PR Consultancy Ltd.
Central Ignition,
1 Mercers Mews
London, N19 4PL
Tel: +44 (0) 207 272 7772
Fax: +44 (0) 207 272 2227
E-mail: peter@noblepr.co.uk | tracy@noblepr.co.uk
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