Emmanuel Jal with special guest Dexter

“one of Africa’s most important musicians” Al Jazeerah

Emmanuel Jal's hypnotic voice rises from hellish origins as a beacon of hope for those caught in seemingly endless cycles of war and despair.

As a child soldier of 8 years old in Sudan’s brutal civil war, Emmanuel Jal was taught to kill.

Thanks to a British Aid worker he was rescued and is now an internationally acclaimed hip-hop artist, peace activist and novelist whose music and work has been lauded by Nelson Mandela and Peter Gabriel alike.

Born out of his experiences, Emmanuel Jal’s unique style of hip hop, with its message of peace and reconciliation, can be heard in major motion pictures and TV and has energised music lovers of all nations.

His story has featured in major outlets like TIME, USA Today, CNN, MTV, & the BBC.

He has performed on the global stage at major events such as Live 8 in 2005 and at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert in 2008. He is a spokesperson for Amnesty International and Oxfam, and has also created the charitable foundation Gua Africa.

His latest single, We Want Peace from his forthcoming album See Me Mama features Alicia Keys and is heavily influenced by Jal's life story.

Swept up into the Sudanese rebel army at age seven, he finally escaped with 400 fellow soldiers, 16 of whom survived, the rest succumbing to starvation, ambush and animal attacks. Rather than resort to cannibalism, Jal ate snails and vultures until he arrived at a refugee camp, where he was adopted by aid worker Emma McCune and later sent to England.

Jal found an outlet for his turbulent life story in music. His lyrics tell moving and disturbing stories, but wrap them into hope and love.