Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier from Sudan, has taken his story and turned it into some serious beats: a song called “We Want Peace”. Featuring strings by non other than Peter Gabriel, the song, like the campaign, dedicates itself to the realization that peace, is possible. To date, South Sudan‘s referendum has been a peaceful success, with 98% of its population voting for separation. The national flag of independence was raised on 9 July 2011; saying that, the issue of Darfur, the Nuba Mountains and the Abyei borders remains a disturbing situation for many in the region.
But if a hit song wasn’t enough, Emmanuel Jal is also the subject of an award-winning film, War Child. Audiences around the world have embraced the hip-hop artist with a terrifying past and a gentle soul. Interspersing original interviews, live concerts, and rare footage of Emmanuel Jal as a seven year-old boy, War Child will make viewers cry, laugh, dance, and celebrate the power of hope.
And if the song and the movie aren’t enough, Jal has also started an organization, We Want Peace. We Want Peace (WWP) has a simple goal: To raise awareness on the fundamental principles of justice, equality, unification and conflict prevention, through the power of music, worldwide. Spearheaded by the internationally renowned recording artist, actor, author and activist, Emmanuel Jal, the WWP campaign has gone from strength to strength since launching in December 2010.
We Want Peace Supporters include a variety of high profile individuals and organizations, including Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, Richard Branson, George Clooney, Kofi Annan, former US President Jimmy Carter, Annie Lennox, MC Hammer, Yasir Arman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the Enough Project, Humanity United and many more.