In a bid to better his future, receive an education and escape war-torn South Sudan, Emmanuel left his hometown in hope of reaching Ethiopia. Instead, Emmanuel was recruited by the SPLA as a child soldier and spent countless years fighting for the army. Emmanuel soon decided that he could take no more, and escaped life as a child soldier when he met Emma McCune. Emma McCune was a British aid worker, who adopted and helped Emmanuel to escape from the tragedy that befell him.
Emmanuel was then forced to live in slums of Kenya, where he discovered both love and talent for music. Initially using the medium as an avenue to escape the memories of his past, Emmanuel has since produced countless albums such as Naath, See Me Mama, The Key and The Help Album. He has also performed at numerous high-profile music events, such as Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Concert and his Holiness the Dalai Lama’s One Concert. His musical talent has been recognised, receiving the 2005 American Gospel Music Award and the 2019 Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year.
Emmanuel is also known for his social and political activism. Using his music and platform, one of Emmanuel’s greatest passions is protecting other children’s childhoods. After having his own childhood destroyed by warfare and tragedy, Emmanuel makes it his mission to ensure that others do not experience what he did. In accordance with his vision, Emmanuel founded We Want Peace in 2010. We Want Peace channels Emmanuel’s passion to end conflicts that affect innocent people, bringing justice, peace and protection to all. We Want Peace has had an immense impact in the world, with Emmanuel working alongside renowned charities such as Amnesty International, Free The Children and Humanity United to resonate with thousands of young and innocent people. Visiting community centres and prisons, Emmanuel has engaged with youths from all walks of life who have become separated from both education and society.
Emmanuel is also a spokesperson for Make Poverty History, and in 2009 he founded Gua Africa. Gua Africa is Emmanuel’s greatest passion in life, a charity founded with the ambition of helping those affected by war in Emmanuel’s home country of Sudan, bettering those people’s lives so they are able to train to become professionals in a variety of sectors. He also featured in a film alongside Reese Witherspoon, titled The Good Lie and had a documentary about his life, titled Warchild released. The documentary was critically acclaimed, crowned with 12 film festival awards across the globe. He was also fortunate to have an autobiography released, also titled Warchild. In 2014 he launched The Key is E, a social enterprise with the vision of empowering Africans through funding, mentors and education.
Highly-rewarded throughout his career, Emmanuel is fortunate to hold some of the most prestigious accolades. He has been bestowed with The Mattie Stepnek Peace Prize, The Hunt Humanitarian Award, The Common Ground Award and has been selected as Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. In 2017 he was awarded the Desmond Tutu Reconciliation Award and in 2017 he was awarded the Vaclav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent.
As a public speaker Emmanuel is sought for his strong message of peace and reconciliation. Having previously addressed officials such as the US Congress, it is without a doubt that Emmanuel is a leading industry authority. Emmanuel is able to deliver authentically on life as a child soldier, covering the struggles he has overcome throughout his life to inspire and motivate others to strive beyond adversity. Personable, passionate and committed to helping those less fortunate, Emmanuel is the perfect speaker to inspire change and influence future generations.
