Emmanuel Jal: Songs of Freedom

My first few blog posts were about concerts and musicians I enjoy. This post, like my last, is about the contributions and inspiration music adds to the world outside of typical beats and vocals.

Emmatnuel Jal is a musician, activist, and a child of war. Emmanuel Jal had the opportunity to speak at a TED event and inspired the audience by telling his painful story of being a child of war to a man of purpose and how music helped him through painful times in his life.

Jal grew up in Africa, in the region of Darfur, Sudan—during a time of violence and war. At a very young age he witnessed rape, killings, separation from family, and even contemplated eating a friend. Jal became a child soldier and was trained to “kill as many Muslims…and Arabs, as possible.” After realizing that it wasn’t the religion he hated but the organized regime that was using religion against his people, he decided to forgive the people he once considered enemies. In his poem “Forced to Sin,” he recounts going through a journey with 400 people and being one of 16 to survive.

His heartfelt story helped me develop a deeper understanding for him and the others that withstood the horrid conditions of a war-torn Africa. Despite all Emmanuel went through, he still finds time to help others in need. He believes that education is what will help others in Africa escape mental slavery and restore the land he calls home. His campaign Lose to Win, is an effort to help build a school in Sudan. Like the people in his village in Africa that eats once a day, he chose to eat one meal as well. He only eats dinner and donates his breakfast and lunch to a charity he founded. The day he eats breakfast is the day he has raised enough money to build the school.

I agree that music can be therapeutic and the only therapy that helps Jal deal with his past is music. In the words of Emmanuel Jal, “Music is the only thing that has the power to ever your cell system, your mind, your heart, influence your soul and your spirit, and can even influence the way you live without even you knowing.”

I agree one hundred percent. What are your thoughts?