Former Child Soldier, Peace Activist Emmanuel Jal to Speak at KSU

Former child soldier, Sudanese peace activist and global hip-hop star Emmanuel Jal will address the community on Saturday, March 31, as thousands of students gather on the campus green in an attempt

Jal was taken from his family home as a young boy, becoming one of thousands of children uprooted from their villages and forced to fight during the Second Sudanese Civil War.

As one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Jal was one of 3,800 young men invited in 2001 to leave refugee camps and come to the U.S. to begin new lives.

Jal has since established himself as an international activist and hip-hop artist who spreads a message of peace and redemption. He has addressed the United Nations and U.S. Congress, has been interviewed by the likes of Time Magazine, and in 2008, was profiled in the documentary film Warchild.

For his commitment to peace building, he received the 2011 Common Ground Award, which was previously awarded to Bishop Desmond Tutu and Mohammad Ali.

Jal, who lives in the U.K., comes to Kennesaw at the invitation of nonprofit Mothering Across Continents and Kennesaw State. One of Mothering Across Continents’ flagship efforts is Raising South Sudan, a project that helps fund education, school building and clean water in the Republic of South Sudan.

Jal has also spearheaded the We Want Peace campaign to "raise awareness on the fundamental principles of justice, equality, unification and conflict prevention, through the power of music, worldwide."

He will address the community during Kennesaw State's Stand Up for Peace event on Saturday, March 31. He will be joined by KSU graduate Nathaniel Nyok, also a former Lost Boy of Sudan.

The event kicks off at noon and will feature speeches and musical performances by Atlanta band Finster and artist Sara Crawford. The KSU Peace Project also hopes to garner 6,000 participants in a world record attempt to create the largest human peace sign.

For more information and to register, visit ksupeace.com.

Jal will also speak in a free master class workshop at KSU on Tuesday, March 27, from 5 to 6:15 p.m. Check here for more information.

Keep up with all the news you care about by subscribing to our free email newsletter, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.