JAL, JULIANI AND BONNY LAUNCH SMS PEACE LINE

In a collective effort to engage and empower youth across Kenya, Kenya’s most inspiring and social conscious lyricist Juliani, Emmanuel Jal,artist and award‐winning photo-activist Boniface Mwangi held what was a first in a series of youth meetings.



In the country's hip hop capital of Dandora on Sunday 4 September 2011. Dedicated to positive social change, Juliani's 'Kama Si Sisi’ initiative Emmanuel Jal's 'We Want Peace' campaign, and Boniface's Kenya Ni Kwetu movement came together on this momentous move of inspiration to engage, discuss and enlighten on the holistic elements of peace, reconciliation and development in Kenya.
Influential youth, Kenyan Hip hop pioneers Ukoo Flani Mau Mau and Robah of Kalamashaka joined Juliani, Emmanuel and Boniface on a tour of Kenya's biggest dumping site in Dandora.



On arrival at the Mau Mau studio, Kenya's hip hop birthplace, Juliani welcomed and hosted all those in attendance to his hometown, while Boniface Mwangi screened Picha Mtaani’s touching Heal The Nation documentary, focused on the tragedy that befell Kenyans after the 2007 December elections.



Thought provoking conversation ensued, with a generic understanding on the urgent need to forge new mind‐sets across Kenya, adopting and embracing a culture of responsibility, accountability and change. "This is a project of champions’ said Juliani, "We will lead the realization in responsible living, education and work."
"Dependency as a way of thinking has to stop," continued Emmanuel Jal. corroborating this, Boniface added, "2007 can never happen again, it's time to bring about meaningful, long term change."



Following what was a historic discussion, documented on the social network, twitter, and triggering further debate online, the We Want Peace 'Commitment to Peace' pledge, via the SMS 595 was officially launched by Juliani and Jal.



"As of now, we are rallying the 595 army, 1 million Kenyans for peace,who will create a positive energy throughout the country in run up to the elections, they will protect Kenya responsibly and become inspiring leaders in their own communities" said Jal. "By texting 595, you have made a promise,through your quote, statement or thoughts, you've made a solid commitment, we want to know what you're doing to ensure peace and development in Kenya."



Juliani weighed in, "All 1 million submissions if not more will then be handed by Emmanuel and I to the Government."

EMANUEL JAL COLLABOS WITH MACY GRAY

Rapper Emmanuel Jal has done collabo with Macy Gray. The song titled ‘Walk on the moon’ was recorded about two months ago.
Jal’s autobiography War Child premiered in Kenya to a very receptive audience.

The American R&B/ Soul singer has released four studio albums, one compilation album, and one live album—with her fourth studio album, Big, released in March 2007—and has received five Grammy Award nominations, winning one. She has appeared in a number of films including Training Day, Spider-Man, and Idlewild.

SUSANNA OWIYO FOR MANDELA DAY CELEBRATION IN NEW YORK

Once again Susanna Owiyo will be performing at the Mandela Day concert, which this year will be held at New York’s famous Radio City Music Hall on July 18. Nelson Mandela will be turning 91, and the grand celebration will be used to raise funds for his foundations. 46664 are staging the concert, which will feature some of the world’s most famous musicians, – the foundation is named after Mandela’s Robben Island prison number and champions his humanitarian work - with the support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and other charitable organisations.
Last year, Susanna performed at Mandela’s 90th birthday in London’s Hyde Park. Then Zain customers across Africa raised more than Sh6.8 million for the Nelson Mandela Foundation through a fundraising competition, during which members of the public were invited to SMS their birthday greetings to the former South African president.
This year’s event will bring together major music names from the US and Africa to perform under the banner of Mandela Day. These will include: Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Chris Chameleon, Freshly Ground, Emmanuel Jal, Loyiso, Sipho Mabuse, Vusi Mahlasela, Thandiswa Mazwai, Queen Latifah, Josh Groban, TLC, Cyndi Lauper and Jesse McCartney and Grammy Award winners Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Wyclef Jean. All the artistes will be sharing the stage and performances with the Soweto Gospel Choir. Telecommunications giant, Zain, sponsors the event.

US celebrity promoter visits Kenya

Celebrity promoter and American event organiser Nefertiti Strong arrived in Nairobi from Juba on monday. Nefertiti, who is the CEO of the US based company, Catch A Dream Entertainment Inc., was in Juba for Emmanual Jal’s charity concert.
The young CEO is in Nairobi to take part in Jal’s War Child documentary to be screened on Thursday.
Nefertiti has worked with big hip hopers like Tu Pac, Ice cube and Ashanti. She will be around till Sunday.

Jal's War Child Movie Is Showing

Nairobi – May 5, 2009 - An internationally acclaimed hip hop artist, author and filmmaker, Emmanuel Jal, has teamed up with a mobile company, Zain, for two fundraising concerts in Jal’s homeland, Southern Sudan, and his second home, Kenya. The concert in Juba will take place at Nyakuron Cultural Center May 3, and the event at Carnivore in Nairobi will be on May 9. With Zain sponsoring the event, all the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit GUA Africa, a nonprofit working to build a school in Leer, Southern Sudan.

Jal was a child soldier during the civil war in his country, until he was rescued and smuggled to Nairobi by a British aid worker, Emma McCune. The school, to be named Emma Academy, will educate children displaced by war and affected by poverty. To raise awareness and funds for the school, Jal has been eating one meal a day for more than 140 days. He will continue doing so until all funds are raised. His “Lose to Win Challenge” aims at donating the money saved from the meals to the campaign, as well as showing that one meal is a daily ration for many children in Southern Sudan. The campaign has raised $87,000 so far, with the goal of $300,000.

“Aid will not help us; education provides enlightenment and opens our minds, giving us many ways to survive and prosper. What we need is to build more schools and give farmers tools,” Jal said.

The concerts will feature Gatwitch Records’ Juliani and Nyaruach, as well as Lam, Kanjii, Michelle and Giel. In Juba, tickets can be purchased from April 29 at Nyakurueng Cultural Center. In Nairobi, tickets will be available on the same date at Carnivore and all Zain locations. Besides the funds raised from ticket sales, donations for the school will be accepted at the gate, as well as via Zain’s Zap. To donate to the school, SMS 0733 120 000.

Their will be a complimentary screening of War Child movie at prestige plaza on May 7th at 6pm. Audiences from New York to Berlin to London rave about this award-winning documentary on Emmanuel Jal, the hip-hop artist with a terrifying past and a kind soul. Interspersing original interviews, live concerts, and rare footage of Jal as a 7-year-old boy, War Child will make viewers cry, laugh, dance, and celebrate the power of hope.
Emmanuel Jal has won worldwide acclaim for his unique style of hip hop with its message of peace and reconciliation born out of his experiences as a child soldier in Sudan. His music can be heard alongside Coldplay, Gorillaz, and Radiohead on the fundraising “Warchild - Help a Day in the Life” album, as well as in three ER episodes, the National Geographic documentary “God Grew Tired of Us” and the feature film “Blood Diamond” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. He can also be heard on John Lennon’s “Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur” amongst the likes of U2, REM and Lenny Kravitz.

Jal performed at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in 2008, and is invited to sing again at his 91st birthday concert this year. In February 2009, he ran the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, commemorating the U.S. Black History Month. Emmanuel Jal’s third album, “War Child” was released in May 2008. A full-length documentary on his life premiered the same year and won a number of international awards. His autobiography was published in February 2009.

Despite his accomplishments in music, Jal’s biggest passion is for GUA Africa, a nonprofit he founded to sponsor children’s education in Kenya and Sudan. The organization provides scholarships for Sudanese war survivors in refugee camps and sponsors education for children in the most deprived slum areas in Nairobi.

For several months now, he has been eating one meal a day to raise awareness and funds to build a school in Leer, South Sudan, where Emma McCune is resting. He committed to skip every breakfast, lunch and snack until the last brick of Emma Academy is laid.

Nas, Damian to miss Jal’s charity event

Sudanese rapper Emmanuel Jal recently teamed up with Zain for a charity fundraising concert in Nairobi on May 1.
Jal was planning on hosting two surprise guests for the charity concert, American rapper Nas and Jamaican singer Damian Jr Gong Marley. However, despite his efforts the two won’t be attending because of time and logistics related issues.
Yulia Holko, Jal’s business partner confirmed that he was planning to incorporate the two for his concert. “Jal has been working with Nas, Damien Marley and Macy Gray on various projects. He would have loved to have them over but it is impossible because of the time and logistics involved. Maybe for another event in the future because their work relationship is just developing,” Yulia said.
“They have been doing a number of big projects together, Jal has recorded a track with all three and Damien is producing Jal’s next album,” she added.
The concert is aimed at raising money to benefit Gua Africa, a NGO working to build a school in Leer, Southern Sudan.

Zain joins Emmanuel Jal’s quest for a school

A few months ago we broke the story that rapper Emmanuel Jal was skipping meals to raise funds for a school in Southern Sudan. Its been130 days so far the campaign has raised $86,000 (Sh68.8million). Mobile Company Zain has joined his cause and will be sponsoring a music concert to support the development of the school in Nairobi on May 1.
Emmanuel Jal wants to raise $300,000 (Sh24million). All the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Gua Africa, a nonprofit Organization working to build a school named after Emma McCune, a British aid worker who rescued Jal in Leer, Southern Sudan. The organization provides scholarships for Sudanese war survivors in refugee camps and sponsors education for children in the most deprived slum areas in Nairobi.
“Aid will not help us in the long term; education provides enlightenment and opens our minds, giving us many ways to survive and prosper. What we need is to build more schools and give farmers tools,” Jal said.
“As Zain we view this as yet another opportunity to bring African talent home that is renown around the world and give the music enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy a world class act locally,” said Michael Okwiri, Zain Kenya Corporate Communications Director. The concerts will feature artists from Gatwitch Records’ Juliani and Nyaruach, as well as Lam and other guest artists.