Emmanuel Jal survived an early life as a child soldier to become one of Africa's most prominent rappers. Taken from his family aged 7 and forced to fight in Sudan's civil war, he spent 5 years fighting in Southern Sudan and Ethiopia. He was smuggled into Kenya by a British aid worker, Emma McCune, where he started school. He remained in Nairobi even after she was killed in a car crash just months after they arrived.

He organised concerts for Nairobi's homeless children and refugees and joined a number of groups. He eventually came to produce his debut single 'All You Need Is Jesus' and his later single 'Gua' was a number one in Kenya.

The track was rerecorded for his debut album "Ceasefire" in 2005. He raps in English, Arabic, Swahili, Dinka and his first language, Nuer and is accompanied by oud player and singer Abdel Gadir Salim.

As a spokesman for the Control Arms Campaign, Emmanuel held two press conferences at the United Nations in New York. He also addressed the US Senate about the plight of the people of Darfur and the need for an international response to stop the killing. After hearing him speak, Condoleezza Rice made several keynote speeches about Darfur and US policy in the region.