Emmanuel Jal – a Hero’s Journey

The zyOzy blog has an article on Emannuel Jal who was a child soldier in Sudan and is now a musician spreading his message to the world.

Jal escaped his role as a pre-pubescent killing machine with the help of two women; Emma McCune and Josephine Mumo.  They showed him another world and he seized the opportunity they provided.  He now speaks eight languages, lectures in front of large crowds, and performs his own music for millions.

“I believe I’ve survived for a reason / To tell my story to touch lives.”

You can read the full article written by Steve Turner at Paste Magazine, but I wanted to share this paragraph that shares why I think Jal qualifies as a hero.

“I’m on a mission,” he says. “I’m representing my people. That’s what I stand for. Whether I’m famous or unknown, my attitude and lifestyle shouldn’t change, because my people are suffering. What have I got to be proud of when what makes me ‘me’ is being destroyed back home?”

Thanks to Steve’s comment, here is a video of Jal performing “Emma McCune” at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday.  He calls out for more Emma McCunes.