A former child solider turned rap artist will deliver the keynote address for Ohio University's International Week tonight at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
When he was 6 years old, Emmanuel Jal was uprooted from his village to fight for the Sudan People's Liberation Army in southern Sudan. He fought for about five years before finding refuge in the United States. He is now an international rap artist - he recently released his third album, WARchild - and spokesman for Amnesty International. Jal will speak and perform at 7 tonight, and admission is free.
The Post's Callie Driehorst spoke to Jal about how he has used his experiences, music and talent to raise awareness about world conflicts.
The Post: Your childhood was not one that many Ohio University students would have experienced. How are your experiences applicable to lives that are so different?
Emmanuel Jal: What I know is that it doesn't matter what the story is, or where it comes from. Everybody's story is essentially the same. ... Whoever carries a problem, they know how heavy that problem is - not anyone else. It's important to not let stories go untold.
Post: How did your past experiences shape your career today?
Jal: My experiences personally are very painful. As painful as it was, I have to learn to live with my past and to accept it. ... You know if you're going through a problem, only you can testify to what happened. If you don't, then no one would know that it did happen. That's why I'm keeping on doing what I'm doing. I want to get the students involved and inspired.
Post: Why is it important to hear about other cultures?
Jal: What I'm bringing here is not just my culture. I'm bringing a story about people's suffering. There are problems in Sudan. There are problems with AIDS and the welfare of the refugees and the lost boys. I'm turning what was a story into a relatable experience. I believe that the universities and the young people that attend them have the power to make change happen. You have the opportunity to end that suffering.
3 Culture
Callie Driehorst
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