With Sudan on the cusp of splitting into two countries, a vote many fear will lead to civil war, hip-hop artist Emmanuel Jal is hoping music can help prevent any more violence in the country. So, the former Sudanese child soldier penned 'We Want Peace' and, with the help of some famous friends, made a music video to spread his message.
"The whole year, we knew something was going to happen," the rapper and activist tells PopEater. "We didn't want [Sudan] to go back to war, so that's how this song came about."
Jal recruited George Clooney, Peter Gabriel and Alicia Keys, who makes a powerful introduction about the importance of peace, to help with the video, which was directed by Gabriel's daughter Anna. On top of those celebrities, Jal enlisted the support of the Elders, a group of global leaders convened by Nelson Mandela that includes former UN Secretary General and Nobel Laureate Kofi Anann, former US President Jimmy Carter, Sir Richard Branson, former Brazilian President Fernando H Cardoso.
Watch Emmanuel Jal's 'We Want Peace' Video
"When the song was ready, we sent the song to Peter Gabriel and he liked it," Jal says. "I also asked him to play string on it. Then he said, 'Hey, I'm meeting with the Elders. I'm going to play for them. If they like it, we can involve them somehow in the music video.' The Elders liked the song and they said, 'Anything for peace, we are ready for it.'"
Jal's goal with the song is simple. "I want to create maximum awareness," he says. "There's power in music. Music is the only thing that speaks to your heart, your mind, your soul and can influence you without even knowing."
"I'm learning from what I heard from George Clooney and understood that when they raised awareness about Darfur, the situation was eased," he continues. "The situation, the number of people who could have died had calmed down. What we're trying to do with the awareness is letting the public know that they can try to get involved and try to prevent future war."
'We Want Peace' is currently on sale via iTunes and Amazon. For more information about the Sudanese conflict, Jal's efforts and his mission for peace, check out We Want Peace's official website.
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