Emmanuel Jal

Emmanuel Jal, a former child-soldier from Sudan gave an awesome performance at the "United Nations Day Concert". He is currently fasting for 365 days to raise money for the school he is building in Sudan.. a truly incredible human being..

His film, War Child chronicles the tumultuous, shocking, inspiring, and ultimately hopeful odyssey of Emmanuel Jal. A former child soldier of Sudan's brutal civil war, he is now an emerging international hip hop star sharing a message of peace for his war-torn land and beloved Africa.

In the early 1980s at the age of seven, Jal was swept into Sudan's civil war, becoming one of 10,000 child soldiers conscripted on both sides of the two decade long conflict. After being forced to do many unimaginably horrible things, he escaped the soldier's camp and trekked for four months through Africa. He was eventually found and adopted by the now legendary British aid worker Emma McCune who had married Sudanese guerrilla commander Riek Machar and convinced him to not employ child soldiers. Shortly after she adopted Jal, McCune died in a suspicious car crash, leaving Emmanuel "orphaned" once again. Jal rose from ruthless child soldier to refugee to rap star. He found his own redemption and life mission through a message of peace that represents one of the 21st centuries' most inspiring and hopeful journeys, and a metaphor for the broader African predicament.

Emmanuel's journey is, in many ways, just beginning. His dream of Gua (peace) in Sudan and prosperity in Africa is threatened by corrupt leaders, genocidal warlords, and Western indifference. Hopefully, Emmanuel's peace quest to make the world a better place through his music, activism and youth education will prove to be far more significant than Emmanuel's former war.

War Child tells the story of Jal's life through his words and music, and remarkable film footage dating back to his childhood. Even at the age of seven, Emmanuel's charisma were so evident that National Geographic focused their own 1980's reportage on him as spokesperson for the children. Today, as Emmanuel travels the World, even into the halls of the US State Department, he takes us through his homeland's tormented history of civil war, assesses the prospects for peace after the country's 2005 ceasefire agreement, highlights the increasing problem of war children, and shines light on the growing African hip hop scene that is tackling the continent's ills through its music.



About Emmanuel Jal

Emmanuel Jal (born ca. 1980), a former child soldier in Sudan, has won worldwide acclaim for his unique style of hip hop music infused with messages of peace and reconciliation. Emmanuel was taken from his family home in 1987, at the age of seven, and sent to fight with the SPLA rebel army in Sudan's bloody civil war. For nearly five years, Emmanuel carried and slept next to an AK-47 that was taller than him. He was sent to Ethiopa and Southern Sudan to fight with thousands of other children that were uprooted from their villages.

Emmanuel has been featured in Time magazine, USA Today, The Times, The Guardian, the Washington Post, CNN, Fox, VOA, BBC, MTV, and Sky amongst many other news outlets. As a spokesman for Amnesty International and Oxfam, Emmanuel has held two press briefings at the United Nations in New York making him the first hip hop artist to do so. He also addressed congressional staffers on Capitol Hill about the plight of the people of Darfur and the pressing need for an international response to stop the genocide. Emmanuel has won an American Gospel Award, as well as a community service award in Kenya for his work promoting peace among youth. He has also recently been nominated for the MTVu Good Woodie Award given to activists for their commitments to social causes affecting the greatest change in the world.

His autobiography, "War Child: A Child Soldier's Story", will be released by St. Martin's Press in February 2009. His most recent album, "Warchild" was released on 12 May 2008 on the Sonic360 label (distributed by ADA Global) with additional production and mix by Neal Pogue (who had done work for various major artists including Outkast, Talib Kweli, and Pharoahe Monch).

Emmanuel recently performed at The V Festival in the UK, the Greenbelt Festival, and the first Black Ball in the UK for Keep a Child Alive (Alicia Keys foundation). He met with Nelson Mandela and performed at the tribute concert for his 90th birthday at Hyde Park in London. Emmanuel is currently touring the East Coast of North America speaking and performing at Colleges and Universities throughout the region.

About Gua Africa US

GUA Africa US' mission is to work with individuals, families and communities to help them overcome the effects of war and poverty. Each of our projects focus on providing an education to children and young adults who would otherwise be denied such opportunity. Currently our work is in Kenya and Sudan, however in the future we would like to expand into other areas of Sub-Saharan Africa - working with other experienced partner organizations where ever opportunities arise.

By supporting the film, you also help support Jal's lifelong dream of Gua, or peace, in Africa. Five percent (5%) of gross revenues of the filme go towards Gua Africa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities in Sudan and Kenya overcome the effects of war and poverty through education.

Brotherhood Sister-Sol

Yesterday I had a beautiful meeting with a young brother by the name of Orisanmi Burton at the Brotherhood Sister-Sol organization in Harlem. They are doing some AMAZING things over there. Brotherhood/Sister Sol offers a safe space full of the resources for Black and Latino youth to speak their minds, acquire knowledge and skills, explore their identity and beliefs, and receive support to make their dreams reality. Their programs and activities - mentoring, leadership development, international study, academic tutoring, internships, community service, job training, writing collective, youth organizing - provide these young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and overcome the negative pressures of poverty, racism, drugs, and violence.

Check Out This Piece: Black Boys Don't Cry: Manhood in Urban America


Check out their International Study Program:

International Study Program--Our International Study Program is a natural continuation of our emphasis on leadership development, Pan-African and Latino history and culture, and global awareness. It is a year-long program with an intensive four-week study program conducted in Africa and Latin America. Our members expand their horizons, develop leadership skills, and gain new and complex perspectives. Language classes, research projects, exploring cultural sites, completing service projects, and visiting NGOs and schools are some of the activities members have experienced in Morocco, South Africa, Mexico, Egypt, Ghana, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Brasil.

Prior to the trip, participants fundraise to help offset program fees and participate in regular planning meetings, as well as attending a week-long orientation. While overseas, participants begin to learn the language of the country they are visiting, meet with representatives in government, business, education, and community development, and have extended stays in rural villages or small towns. They also plan and facilitate seminars, undertake extensive research and make public presentations

Check out their blog: RealityCheckOnline

Pray the Devil Back to Hell

This is an amazing film that Culture Project has screened in the past and might possibly be a part of our upcoming Women Center Stage programs. I encourage you to check out the trailer below:




Pray the Devil Back to Hell chronicles the remarkable story of the courageous Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country.

Thousands of women — ordinary mothers, grandmothers, aunts and daughters, both Christian and Muslim — came together to pray for peace and then staged a silent protest outside of the Presidential Palace. Armed only with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions, they demanded a resolution to the country’s civil war. Their actions were a critical element in bringing about a agreement during the stalled peace talks.

A story of sacrifice, unity and transcendence, Pray the Devil Back to Hell honors the strength and perseverance of the women of Liberia. Inspiring, uplifting, and most of all motivating, it is a compelling testimony of how grassroots activism can alter the history of nations.

A Stinky Smelly Mess

This was a post that was written towards the end of my time in Ghana on July 16th, 2009

It feels like day 8 million and thirty-seven of the itchy sweaty smelly mess also known as Joi M. Sears. My skin is sticky from countless applications of insect repellant and I'm dreaming of a shower. A hot bath seems like a distant fantasy.. Something that people do on another planet. I am lying in bed in Kumasi and I swear I feel bugs crawling all over my body even though I am lying in between sheets I brought from home. My own sheets were a necessity especially because ever since I was little I have had a PHOBIA of spots on sheets. To this day I still refuse to lie on sheets with spots and stains. It all seems so silly now. I was elated when I realized this "hotel" had a flushing toilet.. INSIDE. I have been so used to going outside to the outhouse for the past few weeks.. Which is especially not fun during the middle of the night when it is pitch black. I would imagine all sorts of creepy monsters living in the toilet waiting to pop out and swallow me whole. They did not. But I saw a lizard in there once. A lizard biting my butt would almost make as interesting a story as a monster would.

After diarreah for the past week or so I managed to get a hold of some French fries today in Kumasi and keep that in my tummy. I guess sometimes the body knows what it wants. I was dreaming of fries.. And dancing pizza. One of my roommates said I was suffering from severe D.P.S. "Dancing Pizza Syndrome". I concluded that I would literally slap somebody in the face for a slice of New York cheese pizza. Literally.. Like if somebody walked by with a slice of pizza I would slap them run away and eat it so fast they wouldn't even know what "hit" them.

Whose idea was this again?!?!

Hopefully there will be no more midgets at the Salvation Army Hostel this time. I know midgets is NOT the most politically correct term and for that I apologize.. But they really creeped me out. They were EVERYWHERE and it is bad enough we have to stay at that god-forsaken place anyway.. I don't need a midget peeing in the urinal next to me while I'm trying to wash my face.

But we are leaving at 4:30 am for Accra.. Getting closer and closer to my 5-Star hotel and a shower! Can't wait. I saw a mirror today for the first time in weeks. I was like Ahhhh! Who is that girl?! Not like I thought I was all that to begin with but geez! I wonder if it is even possible to care about what I look like anymore. Perhaps when I get to Paris..

Kumasi, Ghana July 16th


-- Post From My iPhone

Canoe Magazine

Since I am in the process of creating a magazine of my very own, I have started collecting magazines from all over the world for inspiration.. I found Canoe while in Ghana and it truly is a diamond in the rough. Check it out...

CANOE is inspired to celebrate Africa’s evolving culture and lifestyle. It is a creative initiative by 7 entrepreneurs endeavoured to correct the image of Africa, predict growing trends and portray positively, the continent and its people. The result is a conservative, sexy template, heralding the rebirth of Afro-cool. CANOE seeks to guide ‘Black Diamonds and Pearls’ [your Afro-bourgeois]: Principally, in luxury trends and laudable knowledge through exposure - the power with which they can augment their lives and secure an exceptional lifestyle with a sense of pride and knowledge of self. CANOE is not hesitant to show success through extravagance as a merit of prosperity; but to create a lust, a passion for the rewarding things in life. Sail with us to see the new Africa. We offer you an exclusive Quarterly, with extraordinarily beautiful things from this wonderful chocolate continent. Together, we spearhead a revolution in trends, fashion and technology. CANOE will inform, inspire and breed a calibre of visionaries, influencing your lifestyles in appreciation of the true worth of AFRICA, as is: Our contribution to the long awaited Afro-Renaissance. (www.canoequarterly.com)

Slave Castles in Photos

I encourage everyone to read my earlier post about the visits to the Elmina and Cape Coast Slave Castles. Sometimes though, I think a photo says it just as well.. (sometimes better).

Cooking with Zina

I am so thankful for all of the many beautiful moments that God has given me on this wonderful journey. One of my favorite memories was spending the day with Zina, one of the young ladies in the Girl's Empowerment Program. She took me to her father's store and taught me how to cook Vegetable Stew - Ghanian style. She then introduced me to her family.. a family filled with beautiful women from the young to the old.

P-Square

The girls in Ghana got me hip to P-Square and I had so much fun having them teach me how to dance. Paul and Peter Okoye, a set of twins originating from Nigeria, both sing and dance kinda of like an African version of Usher. They seem to be uber popular with Ghanaians. Let me say.. it is 6 A.M. on a Saturday morning and I am dancing around my room.. missing and wishing I was dancing around with the girls! Just one of the many gifts they gave me..

Check 'em out:



www.mypsquare.com

Witch Doctor

By far.. My favorite thing about Visiting Kumasi (few hrs outside of Accra, Ghana) was the market. This market is by far the largest open- air market in western Africa Birds eye view:





Our tour guide reminded me so much of my best friend Ayanna's mother:





I bought enough jewelery for a small village.. They had everything there! A must visit for anyone traveling to Ghana! I cannot describe this market with words. My favorite part though was visiting the Witch Doctor and getting to see all of the snake heads and such used for charms and spells:







-- Post From My iPhone

Strength of a Warrior

Today I visited Kakum National Park and both the Cape Coast and Elmina Slave Castles.  It was very interesting to walk in the steps of the Obamas just days after their visit.

July 19, 2009

I thought I would be most effected by the spirits of the people who died while captured inside of the Slave Castles when in fact I was most effected by the spirits of those who survived. I wonder what sort of strength my ancestors had.. what sort of power and will is running through my veins. If only 1 out of 3 Africans survived living months inside these torture chambers and even less survived the middle passage.. I am astounded by the amount of strength my ancestors had in the sheer will to survive. I think of who this woman might have been..

Perhaps she was about my age. She would have been separated from her family and friends while captured as a prisoner of war and kidnapped by African slave traders. I cannot fathom how Africans could trade the lives of their fellow brothers and sisters to the Engli

sh, Dutch and Portuguese for things such as liquor and jewels. Perhaps this is what colonialism does to a person.. Makes luxury and wealth more important than human lives. But isn't this exactly what still happens today?

I wonder what this woman would have looked like. If she had been beautiful she would have most likely been raped by kidnappers and guards along the way. If not, her opportunity might have come when the general requested for all the female slaves to be brought out into the center of the castle to choose one as his concubine. He would peer down at them from his platform and pick which one he wanted.. kind of liking choosing cattle for slaughter. The guards would then seize her. 

Water would be drawn from a well and she would be washed in preparation for him. 

If she refused, she would be beaten, starved or killed. Once broken, she would ascend the long spiral staircase up to the General's quarters where he would have her way with her. When he was done, it would be the guards' turn.

The slave women would be separated and shackled together in groups of at least five. Buckets were placed at either side of the dungeon which is pitch black and holds several hundred women at a time. These buckets were intended for relieving oneself meaning if one person had to go.. all those shackled to her must go as well. After time, the body becomes too weak to move and everyone begins to use the relieve themselves on the floor. The smell must have been horrific.. The dungeon floor would have been covered with urine, feces, and vomit. There would have been no air. If a woman has become pregnant she would have to give birth to her child on that floor while still shackled to those around her.

Men and women were separated from capture. I wonder if this young woman had a husband. If so, she would most likely never see him again, alive. If so, it would be at the door of no return and only then for a brief moment. I wonder how he would have reacted when her cries were heard. Perhaps he had a child that he would never see. I imagine her giving birth and having her child ripped from her breast as soon as she could give him a name. I wonder what kind of strength can survive all of this.

I rubbed my hands across the stone walls of the female dungeon and for a second I could almost hear those women crying. Tears fall down my face and I feel completely weak and helpless. I weep for those women.. Those who died.. Those who survived and all of those men who could do Nothing.

I felt almost infantile today.. and broken. My sickness has made me very weak in my body and in my spirit. Whenever I walk down the stairs there is a man to offer his hand as if my legs are going to break in two. I get so angry with myself especially when looking at the Ghanaian woman who carries 75lbs of firewood on her head while her baby is strapped to her back. These slave women had the strength and the will to survive through famine, rape, sickness, loss and every other horrible thing you could imagine. They must have kept their mind on survival while both those chained to the left and right of them were dead. They would have seen their sons murdered before their very eyes.. (how many women still witness this today??) and serve as powerless bystanders of the emasculation of their men. The Ghanaian Man is the provider for and leader of his family.. (more on him later). He is not deficient by human nature.. He was made that way!

I have realized that this trip is about finding my strength.. Finding the strength of a Warrior.. better yet.. the strength of a Queen.

The Resting Place

I woke up this morning to the sound of roosters greeting the Sun and cows outside my window. They begin the Village Morning announcements by loud speaker at about 5:30 am. This is the time when everyone gets up and ready to go to farm. We had a tour of the Village today. I am amazed by how friendly and happy everyone is amongst so much poverty. They smile and wave at us and ask to shake our hands. They say, "Akwaaba!" which means welcome.. And some say to me, "welcome home!" I do feel at home here. Humjibre literally means "the resting place". If it is spelled in Twi it begins H-O-M-E. I feel that my soul is resting and at home here.. What an incredible blessing.

So I am told the carrying of things on the head is called a "head load".. I have seen all sorts of incredible things being carried on the heads of young and old from wood logs for making fire, to suitcases.. things to sell in the streets such as hundreds of satchels of water, toys to sell, bricks.. Anything you could imagine.

Wherever we go the children follow us and grab a hold of our hands. Two little girls have taken to me especially and they are adorable, Josephina and Frieda.. they are both six years old. We held hands and laughed and skipped down the road.. They just smiled and looked at me. It is going to be so hard to leave them but will make it so much more important for me to come back.


-- Post From My iPhone

Arrival

Just arrived in Humjibre a couple of hours ago after about an 8 hr tro tro ride. If any of you don't know what a tro tro is it is basically how it sounds.. An old busted kinda broken down van which has absolutely no shock absorbency and of course no air conditioning. We left the hostel in Accra at approximately 4:30 am.. Didn't have a chance to take a shower. Well actually I decided against taking a shower, even though it would be my last contact with running water because I couldn't fathom using the bathroom at the Salvation Army Hostel. As I mentioned in my last post, the room in which we were staying had 6 twin beds and only cost 6 Ghanaian Cedis so about $4 American dollars. There was one bathroom for the entire hostel to share.. which strangely enough was accommodating about 50 "little people" who were competing in the dwarf world cup or something like that. So when I went to wash my face in the morning and a midget (for lack of better word) came in and started peeing in the urinal next to the sink.. I decided that I'd had quite enough. Nothing against little people, I would have reacted the same way if it were any Man. But when in Africa..

As I'm writing this little boys keep peering in through the window of our bedroom. Boys will be Boys. The little girls are all so sweet and kind. They just hang onto me and hug me and tell me I am beautiful to which I reply, "no, YOU are beautiful.. and they just smile and laugh". It is not hard to make a Ghanaian laugh. The boys are too shy to approach me but as soon as I pull out a camera they all ham it up! Especially the little girls.. They start posing and trying to get in front and then grab at the camera to see themselves saying, "That's me! That's me!"

We have a cook who comes to make us lunch and dinner, her name is Fastina. Today we had rice balls with some sort of peanut based tomato sauce which was pretty good. I hear goats from my window and roosters.( Is that right, plural of goat is goats?? ) But anyway, I'm told it isn't really a goat it is actually a sheep which confuses me... Eh..

I have a feeling this will be a long post. So back to what I was saying before.. We left Accra about 4:30 am and to my surprise Ghana was already awake! Wide awake! Not that dazed 8 am caffeine crazed clutching coffee cup awake that New Yorkers have.. I mean like up, energized and been hustling for hours awake. Before the Sun came up the whole city was moving.. Pulsating with the energy to get things done. Carrying all sorts of things on their head!! I have to say I am amazed by this.. But more on that later.


-- Post From My iPhone

First Impressions - Accra

So I've just arrived in Accra, Ghana and am feeling strangely in a familiar place. As soon as I stepped off the plane I could SMELL and FEEL the water in the air. This is why I love to be close to the water! My mother says that Ghana is the place of my ancestry. She knows this because a particular blood disease that is prevalent in my family were traced back to this part of the world. She says this is easily recognized by the craving for red dirt that is found in certain parts of the world.. and the first thing that I noticed from the plane. I feel I am among friends.. or better yet.. FAMILY.

I have been traveling for a little over 24hrs and am exhausted but energized in a certain way. I flew from Cincinnati ---> Chicago ----> Frankfurt, Germany ----> Accra, Ghana. We are staying at the Salvation Army Hostel for the night before traveling by tro tro to the village leaving at 4:30 am. I am told that the Hostel costs approximately 6 Ghanian Cedis a night which equates to probably about $3 or $4 for a room that sleeps 7.. so that should give you an idea about the quality of the place.. But when in Africa.. I feel blessed and am certainly not complaining. I originally thought that the woman at the currency exchange made a mistake when she gave me over 370 cedis for my $260 American dollars.. last I heard the exchange rate was 1 to 1.. but apparently that is no longer the case. A blessing for me nonetheless but not so great for the African economy.

I am sitting in an internet cafe which costs a cedi an hour.. the rest of our group is at a soccer game. I came in a little later so was unable to go but look forward to meeting them all at dinner. Our group leader, Devon, has told me that the girls are really excited to see me in particular which makes me smile. I sent them a picture of me in a purple dress with pearls, they probably don't get the opportunity to meet very many Black Americans. I am anxious and excited to meet them as well and settle in the village for the next few weeks. What an incredible journey.. everything is going well and God has blessed me with all that I have asked for and more. I am looking forward to growth and transformation.

Ghana Health and Education Initiative July 1 - July 21

It is so hard to believe that in just a few days I will be in Ghana! I feel so incredibly excited and BLESSED. I will be working with the Ghana Health and Education Initiative's Girl's Empowerment Program:

Gender inequality has an impact on the health and education levels of both women and the community as a whole. In an effort to change practices that are harmful in this way, GHEI incorporates aspects of girls’ empowerment and gender inequality into all aspects of our work. In addition to these ongoing efforts, GHEI runs annual girls’ empowerment camps for groups of teenagers, led by groups of Serve and Learn volunteers. As well as informal teaching about adolescent sexual health issues, the camps involve life skills training on topics such as decision-making, self-confidence, and assertiveness.

GHEI's objective is to help build a sustainable future for the people of Ghana through community-based health and education projects. Their mission is to promote the advancement of health and education inf the Bibiani-Ankwaso-Bekwai District of Ghana by providing the resources and the necessary support to effect change.



As an active Theatre of the Oppressed facilitator, I am so incredibly excited to make art with these beautiful young women, give them the skills to empower themselves, and allowing myself the opportunity to learn and grow creatively. This will truly be a TRANSFORMATIVE experience and I invite you to check back often as I will try to post photos and thoughts as often as I can. Also, be sure to check out my Twitter: www.twitter.com/4freepeople (as it is updated with all the points on our itinerary).

After Africa, then it is off to Paris and Amsterdam before returning to New York. I can't wait!!