Hip Hop, the modern Opera

At eight years old, Emmanuel Jal carried an AK-47; today, the world renowned hip hop artist from deep within Sudan holds a microphone and a voice that carries with it all of the pain of his past, his intense passion and his hope for change in the world. "It's a long story," Jal said in reference to his life. The now 30-year old or so musician (he's not completely certain of his age) spends his time performing around the world and spreading the word about his past and what it means to the future of his homeland.

After his mother was murdered, his brothers were scattered and his sisters were raped and beaten, Jal was taken from his home to fight on behalf of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), a revolutionary group determined to overthrow the Sudanese government. After months of training, the young boy was sent to fight.

"We were all excited in a way," Jal said. "We wanted revenge for our families. We didn't know what the war was for, we only knew that my aunt was raped, that my brother and sisters were taken, my mother was claimed by the war. People were disappearing … that's why I wanted to be trained, for revenge." After escaping from Sudan and the war that continued to rage on, Jal was rescued by a British aid worker who took him to Kenya, and put him in school; so the journey of the modern Emmanuel Jal begins.

Hip hop, the modern opera It wasn't long after moving to Kenya that Jal found music as a medium of expression and a source of escape. Now, in 2009, Jal has performed around the world in the hopes of letting people know about what is going on in Africa.

In his song Gua (War Child) Jal asks, "Is there anyone to hear my cry?" After years of performing, he says that people are beginning to hear his cry and they are listening to the issues that he and thousands others have had to face in their lives.

His eclectic mix of hip hop, R&B, rap with hints of reggae and pop combined with his energetic and eccentric stage presence has made Jal a dynamic yet under appreciated musician. While some of his songs are gaining in popularity, he has gone somewhat unnoticed. But more than his music, Jal wants his voice about poverty, corruption and the demise of many people in Africa to be heard. "Hip hop just flows," he said. "I love it so much because it tells a story. It's the modern opera. No music has conquered the world like hip hop. All of the corners of the world, you will hear hip hop. Rock is only in America and Europe, but hip hop, it's in the ghettos, it's in the cities, it's everywhere. It's a voice for the people of the ghetto, it's a theory, it's for the community."

The war continues "I'm still at war," Jal admits, "But I'm fighting a different kind of war. The pen and paper is more powerful than the AK-47 because with music, you're an emotional leader and you are accepted by the people so your beliefs and your words can reach far. If I chose to be bitter in my music, then I will make people bitter. But I choose to sing about peace."

His battle now is to make people aware of what is going on and to show them that what's needed most is education-not money and not aid.

Jal decided to begin a hunger strike to raise money for a school he wants to build in his home village in Sudan. He decided to forego breakfast and lunch every day until he can raise the $300,000 needed. "I'm on a painful journey," he said. "This is something I'm willing to die for. If a man has nothing to die for, then there is no reason for them to live."

For years, Jal said, America and other Western countries have been sending aid and money to the devastated regions of Africa. But that's not the answer, he says. "You can learn from how many years that aid has been going to Africa; it's like a rain drop in the ocean. But the poverty is increasing still. What you need is education. The only way to help is through education, not aid. That's not a long term solution. You want to give farmers tools, train people to do things, build schools. When people get food that falls from the sky but you don't teach them how to farm on their fertile lands, you cripple them. Give them skills and tools and knowledge-that's the only way to enlighten and to move forward."

Emmanuel Jal released a free single "We Fall" on Wednesday to say thank you to everyone who have supported his efforts, create more awareness and hope that more people donate to the cause. "I'm not interested in your money for me, I'm giving people a free song so that they can donate to the cause. You don't have to pay for it, but if you want to make a difference in the world, then do that and donate to the cause." Visit www.emmanueljal.com or www.gua-africa.org to download the free single and help raise money for the new school.

Read the entire, uncut interview with Emmanuel Jal, on our website: www.dakotastudent.com.