Emmanuel Jal was born in the war-torn region of Southern Sudan, his exact date of birth unknown, in the early 1980s. He was thrust into a life of child soldier, but through unimaginable struggles, he managed to survive and emerge as a recording artist.
Emmanuel's music is a unique blend of hip hop, carrying a powerful message of peace and reconciliation, born out of his personal experiences. He has released four studio albums: Gua, Ceasefire, Warchild, and See Me Mama.
Emmanuel has performed at numerous high-profile events, including Live 8, Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday Concert, and the One Concert for his Holiness the Dalai Lama. He has shared the stage with notable acts such as Faithless, Razorlight, Supergrass, and Fat Boy Slim in Europe, and has toured the United States as part of the National Geographic All Roads Film Festival.
In addition to his music, Emmanuel is a sought-after speaker and has addressed the UN, US Congress, the Carter Centre, and several governments. He has collaborated with the British Council, Clinton Global Initiative, Adolescent Girls Initiative, Child Soldiers Initiative, and the launch of Ericsson's Refugees Reunited Software.
In 2008, a full-length documentary about his life, Warchild, was released and won 12 prestigious film festival awards worldwide. His autobiography, also titled Warchild, was published by Little Brown in the same year.
Emmanuel has also appeared in several films, including the major motion picture Africa United and the upcoming 'The Good Lie' alongside Reese Witherspoon. His music has been featured in films, documentaries, and TV shows such as Blood Diamond, Girl Rising, ER, and National Geographic.
