Duya (please, Krio)


Emmanuel Jal is Sudanese man who was forced to fight in his country's brutal civil war as a child. Now he is a rapper. In his book he makes a comment about how it confused him at first that Western artists would rap about guns, sing about violence. He knew these things. He had been exposed to violence all his life and it has scarred him. Now ignorant Americans rap about it as if they know anything of real violence, real conflict. Sure, many of them grew up in terribly unhealthy environments, trapped in the midst of gang violence and rivalries. But none, none of these rappers whose lyrics so confused Jal was conscripted into an army that burned, pillaged, and tortured, as well as stole childhoods away from boys and girls.
After his redemption from a violent lifestyle, Emmanuel Jal only wanted to rap about love and care. He wants his music to speak to people and bring peace. But we seek after music that makes us angry, that stirs us up. There's nothing wrong with a tune that one can feel to one's soul, nothing wrong with listening to a song that you like, but why do we want our music to be about pain and brutality? Why do rappers insist on insulting everyone and everything? Why do they sing about women like prostitutes as if that's the way we should be when women throughout the world turn to that occupation as the last possible means to feed themselves and their families? War, prostitution, torture, risk, disrespect, it all holds our society back. If people like Martin Luther King Jr. have tried so hard and so long to rid our world of such evils why do we glorify them now?
Most Americans live easy lives. Our biggest problems matter to us, but do not compare with those of people in third world countries. It's wonderful that we have the ability to live such prosperous lives but glorifying the problems that others in the rest of the world(and even in our own country)struggle with is a cruel and arrogant practice. We flaunt problems that aren't real to us, but are to others as though the problems are what is cool, what is desirable. By doing this we broadcast arrogance and degrade our fellow humans. Instead of creating conflict, Emmanuel Jal raps about peace, love, and his desire for unity in Sudan.

"I can't, I can't wait for the day
When I will see no more tears, no more fear, no cry
No tribalism, nepotism, and racism in my motherland
I can't wait for that day when the wonderful people go back home
And plant their nation in this generation."
-Gua (Emmanuel Jal)

Funny the way it is.

-Lydia