Shaheera Asante
September 2005 - Emmanuel Jal, Africa at the V&A and the MOBOs
Hi and welcome! September is one of my favourite months - we're feeling refreshed after the summer... let's go!
Emmanuel Jal
Six months ago if I said Emmanuel Jal's name to anyone in the 'know' in African music or the World music circles - a blank stare would have followed.
Now his name has been on everyone's lips since his brilliant track 'Gua' featured on this year's 'The Rough Guide to the Music of Sudan' album (released by World Music Network on 25 April). The word of mouth about this 21-year-old former child-soldier, turned rap star, subsequently led to his appearance at the Africa Calling Live8 concert at the Eden Project, Cornwall in July.
Emmanuel's performance blew me away at Eden. I was looking forward to seeing him all day! Although in my opinion, he was onstage far too short a time, he had a powerful and lasting effect on the crowd.
His new album ' Ceasefire' was recorded in London and Nairobi and features singer, composer and oud player, Abdel Gadir Salim . From the Kordofan region in Sudan; Salim is in his own right an accomplished master of northern Sudanese music.
Jal hails from the Southern, predominately Christian region of Sudan. The Muslim North and Christian South had been engaged in a bloody religious civil war, for more than 20 years until very recently. Earlier this year the 2005 peace deal between the Sudanese government and the Sudan's People's Liberation Army (SPKLA) finally agreed a truce.
Ten times the size of the UK, Sudan is the largest country in Africa. Large areas in the North are desert, unpopulated apart from a few nomadic tribes. To the South is Black Africa, while to the North-East is Arabia - and music, not surprisingly, reflects both influences.
Every track on 'Ceasefire' is a fantastic surprise to the ear. Jal's African hip-hop - clear, uncomplicated and heartfelt lyrics (in English, Arabic and Sudanese) draw you into each track's deeper meaning. Meanwhile Salim's dynamic musical arrangements create a seamless thread of traditional and contemporary Sudanese sounds. Musically 'Ceasefire' draws from the two religions of Sudan - Christian and Muslim - and makes peace and reconciliation its central theme and focus.
Emmanuel Jal brings a new style of African hip hop with his rap crew, the Reborn Warriors , on tracks 'Lemon Bara', 'Hadiya' and 'Gamearina' and 'Ya Salam'. And this really compliments the traditional and awesome instrumentation of the oud, electric guitar, saxophone, accordion and bass guitar that Salim delivers with his band, the Merdoum All Stars .
The importance of these two men, two musicians from opposite sides of the bloody Sudanese conflict have created a masterpiece of an album. The mutual respect and admiration each musician has for each other's style is unashamedly obvious and shines throughout.
Emmanuel's life story is not only unique but an inspiration to all children from around the world, from Palestine to Iraq who have grown up with a daily diet of violence, conflict and uncertainty.
After his mother died when he was seven years old, Emmanuel like many orphaned children in Sudan was taken to one of the SPLA's military training camps in Ethiopia . After several years as a child soldier, and following the failure of the assault on south Sudan 's capital Juba in 1991, Jal trekked for hundreds of miles to join a rival rebel group in Waat. It was here he met Emma Mccune , the British relief worker whose marriage to the rebel commander Reik Machar, made international headlines. Machar adopted and smuggled Jal into Kenya .
Today Emmanuel's music he says, gives a voice to Sudan 's lost boys, a generation of children affected by the civil war. Jal is now a spokesperson for the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers , Make Poverty History and the Control Arms campaign.
Don't miss Emmanuel being interviewed by Andy Kershaw on Radio 3, on 11 September. And check out 1Xtra's documentary which charts his long trek to safety.
African Friday Late at the V&A
Make sure you don't miss this, on 30 September, as it will be THE coolest (and free) party of the year! The the first time ever, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London will host an all encompassing African-themed Friday late, celebrating Africa 05 .
The evening will feature a 'Fashion in Motion' show by African designers, Xuly Bet ( Mali ), Hassan Hajjaj ( Morocco ) and Joel Andrianomerisoa ( Madagascar ). Plus Nigerian artist Dilomprizulike is creating a performance called 'How the tailor died', responding to the V&A's textile collection.
Outstanding African grooves will be supplied by DJs Zak Akhimien (Shakara/Amplified collectives) and DJ Dudu Sarr (Africa Remix) plus spectacular West African 10-piece dance and drumming troupe, Kaago , led by master drummer Henri Gaobi from the Ivory Coast. Their performance is not only energetic but stunning to watch as they wear authentic traditional village masks and costumes from the Ivory Coast. Enjoy African food and drinks too as Africa 05's Artist in Residence, Beyonder hosts spoken word poetry.
Continuing the Africa 05 season at the V&A, on Saturday, 8 October, their new garden will be transformed into a vibrant and colourful African-inspired bazaar with over 30 market stalls. Family activities include face-painting, hair braiding, traditional West African board games and an African 'dressing up' photo-booth, where particpants can take photos of themselves in 'Samuel Fosse' style.
MOBO Awards 2005
I must be honest, it's taken far too long for this to happen, but better late than never! As the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards reach their tenth anniversary on 22 September - it's also a celebration for African music - with the new 'Best African Act' category.
The recently launched Africa Unite Music Group will be sponsoring this first-ever African category at the awards show, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London .
The category will also feature an 'African Icon' award which will honour the best of African music from the continent. The Africa Unite Music Group was founded by African PR guru Sheila Okonji, who is Nigerian-born and London-based. Sheila decided to "put her money where her mouth is" and sponsored the MOBO award to finally get African music recognized in the UK .
As she explained, "the Africa Unite Music Group aims to develop the African entertainment industry by way of investments and donations, helping to create a direct impact on the economy and job prospects within the continent". Well said.
Up for 'Best African Act' at this year's Mobo Awards are: Baba Maal, Femi Kuti, 2 Face, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Youssou N'Dour and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. We will be featuring more on the new African category at the MOBO's shortly.
My heart goes out to all of those who have lost loved ones and who face an uncertain future. Please remember them in your prayers and find a way to do something to help.
Peace and Love
Shaheera x
Shaheera Asante's Recommended CDs
Various Artists - The Rough Guide to the Music of Madagascar
Emmanuel Jal & Abdel Gadir Salim - Ceasefire
Cheikh Lo - Lamp Fall
Check out my recommended CDs this month in the CD Reviews section or go to Music Search to look at our archive of recommended CDs.