Emmanuel Jal is a multi-lingual Kenyan rapper, a refugee, and spokesman for the Control Arms campaign and the Make Poverty History campaign.

But 10 years ago, he tells Haru Mutasa, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Nairobi, he was a child soldier in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).

"I'm war child", Emmanuel sings in his single.

As a child, he was forced to raid villages for food and kidnap girls for the older rebels.

About his forthcoming album, Emmanuel says: "War Child basically is my experience of my country, how war started ... how I've left home ... and losing the people that I love the most."

When he finally escaped the SPLA, he lived as a refugee in Kenya.

Mutasa reports: "Growing up in a slum was difficult for Emmanuel. He lived with his foster family in a metal shack. There was no running water and electricity – but it was better than life in Sudan."

He knew he was lucky to be in Kenya – but he still wanted to do something to help his people back home.

So he decided to show young people, through music, that violence is never a solution to any problem.

Emmanuel's lyrics say: "I've seen my people die like flies, but I've never seen a dead enemy, at least one that I've killed. But still as I wonder, I will go under. Guns barking like lightning and thunder..."

Now, his powerful songs have led to a recording contract and an opportunity to spread his message around the world.

That message is that guns kill. And through music, he believes people are hearing it.

External link:

    *Emmanuel Jal Online

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