Quotes by Emmanuel Jal

About Emmanuel Jal:

Emmanuel Jal is a South Sudanese musician, former child soldier, and political activist. His autobiography, War Child: A Child Soldier's Story, was published in 2009.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A lot of child soldiers lose their minds.

Emmanuel Jal

When you don't educate the people, you're crippling them. You are, you're not giving them ways to survive.

Emmanuel Jal

I don't take modern hip-hop as real. It's entertaining, it's fake, like James Bond.

Emmanuel Jal

If you really kill, you don't want to talk about it.

Emmanuel Jal

I'm rapping in English but in an African way. I'm not trying to sound like an American.

Emmanuel Jal

I would advise dancers, musicians and others in the entertainment industry to take up yoga, as it clears the mind and creates a sense of balance and stillness which is important for any performing artist.

Emmanuel Jal

I grew up in poverty. For 25 years I was fed on aid.

Emmanuel Jal

I was shocked when I came to New Orleans. I never knew there were beggars on the streets here. I didn't know that there were poor people. I thought this was Heaven, you know?

Emmanuel Jal

In Africa, you know, if you're poor, at least you can go to the forest and share some mangoes with the gorillas and monkey.

Emmanuel Jal

When you see a Sudanese walking on the street, there is a story.

Emmanuel Jal

Young people are so brave when they go to fight.

Emmanuel Jal

I still have nightmares of dead comrades, a long time ago, talking to me. 'Emmanuel, don't forget about us, don't give up, keep telling our story.'

Emmanuel Jal

The first time I experienced war, I thought the world was ending.

Emmanuel Jal

When I first went to school, I was fighting all the time. The soldier mentality was still in me. I kept getting expelled. I found it hard to take instructions from anyone who wasn't a military commander.

Emmanuel Jal

I'm still a soldier, fighting with my pen and paper for peace till the day I cease.

Emmanuel Jal

Only a coward will use a gun to protect and get respect for themselves.

Emmanuel Jal

For many Sudanese, it's for strength they choose to be Christian rather than Muslim. My mum was a Muslim but she became a Christian later.

Emmanuel Jal

In Africa, music is for everything, Music was originally used for community. That was what music was for.

Emmanuel Jal

In times of war, starvation, hunger and injustice, such tragedy can only be put aside if you allow yourself to be uplifted through music, film and dance.

Emmanuel Jal

What music does to me, it helps me balance my inner pressure so that I can deal with the forces outside that are trying to pressure me.

Emmanuel Jal

Music - it's the only thing that can enter your system, your mind, your heart, without your permission.

Emmanuel Jal

Author Bio

  • NameEmmanuel Jal
  • DescriptionSouth Sudanese musician
  • Born1980
  • CountrySudan
  • ProfessionRapper; Actor