For many, looking back on life as a child can be a pleasant experience, but for Emmanuel Jal, childhood is painful to talk about.
At the age of eight in the war-torn region of South Sudan, Jal was forced to become a child soldier.
“First before the war was beautiful, but when war came it took the soul of the village out and was hell,” said Jal.
“Being in a situation where you have to bury your own dead, I wanted revenge for my family so it was easy for me to accept being trained.”
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At the age of 12, he was rescued by a British aid worker and brought safely into Kenya where he discovered his passion for music.
“Music is a painkiller for me now,” said Jal.
“Music is where I get to become a child again and where I get to see heaven, where I get to dance. It is what I use to create conscious global awakening. It created me a platform to connect with people.”
He is known around the world as a recording artist for his distinctive hip-hop style, but he is also getting rave reviews for his latest project, Jal Gua Cafe.
“It is way more than a cafe,” said Lisa Raffaele, customer. “It is the attitude, the hugs that he gives you are genuine when you walk in. You feel like you are coming to a community centre.”
“Big ideas are born in cafes, people come and interact,” said Jal.
“When you’re bitter or you are angry, everything is fresh like it happened yesterday. So, when I decided to forgive and let go, I was able to find freedom.”
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