Ceasefire

Emmanuel Jal | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Riverboat
• ASIN: B000AR9ZBI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,771 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #92 in Music > Christian > Rap & Hip-Hop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ceasefire is an inspired collaboration between Southern Sudanese rising-star rapper Jal and established Northern Sudanese singer and oud player Salim. Here the two find common ground within their music. Sudan is in a state of civil war, and while political clashes make for death and starvation, this musical union offers an optimistic alternative, one where the Northern Arabic melodies and rhythms fit hand in glove with the Southern African percussion and Jal's laid-back flow. When the duo digs most deeply into the hip-hop vibe, as it does on Jal's "Aiwa" and "Elengwen," it mixes hiccupping beats, smooth raps, and rich ethnic backdrops. Yet there are also some conventional Arabic songs (with both doing vocals) like the Salim-penned "Ya Salam" and the traditional-leaning "Lemon Bara" that provide their own perspective. Ceasefire will hopefully open the eyes of those on either side of the conflict as well as draw some attention from abroad. It also makes for exciting and innovative listening. --Tad Hendrickson

Product Description

For the first time, musicians from the north and south of Sudan come together to explore their common ground. Southern Sudanese artist Emmanuel Jal, one of the hottest rappers to explode out of the African music scene, joins northern Sudanese singer, composer and oud player Abdel Gadir Salim in a captivating musical collaboration. This incredible alliance of a renowned maestro with a young rapper produces music bursting with intricate melodies and a central message calling for peace in Sudan.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ceasefire rocks, December 8, 2005

By 

Jonathan Richards "Music listener" (Queensland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ceasefire (Audio CD)

This album is simply brilliant. Why do the poorest people make the best music? More importantly, this album shows how music can help overcome internal strife and pave the way for future peace. It is so good to find an album like this that is musically and politically so uplifting. I wish them both all the luck in the world!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Peace Call & Deft Grooves of Ceasefire, February 19, 2006

By 

Juan Mobili (Valley Cottage, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ceasefire (Audio CD)

Southern Sudanese Emmanuel Jal and Northern Sudanese Abdel Gadir Salim are the epitome of contrast. First, they represent the opposite ends of their country's political/religious, the former a young Christian, and Salim a Muslim and an elder of his country's music tradition.

Jal, now 25, was one of the thousand of young children forcefully removed from their homes by the insurgent guerrilla movement pitted against government forces. In Salim's case, having been brutally stabbed and barely surviving the attack of an orthodox Muslim man enraged with Salim's impious music, violence is no stranger.

Musically speaking, whereas Salim, Emmanuel Jal is an example of African music diving into Western music, most specifically his strong commitment to Hip-Hop. Salim is a consummate singer and oud player of Sudan's Folk music. So, "Ceasefire" besides not being a casual title, it is also a great album.

Proof of it, for instance are Jal's hip-hop influenced "Aiwa" -with its insistent percussion and dead-on rapping- or "Elengwen"-where the elder Salim trades verses with Emmanuel Jal-or "Gua," where chant-like choruses and an Eastern-leaning saxophone speak gloriously to one another. There are, also, more traditional Arabic songs, "Ya Salam" and "Lemon Bara" stand out, or you can sway along with the gorgeous "Asabi."

This is a stunning statement of two great musicians who could easily have chosen to remain enemies, but fortunately for lovers of great music anywhere in the world, they did not.

Recently, Sudanese rebel leaders and government ministers met to agree on a peace deal designed to end Sudan's 21-year civil war. If ever they hit a snag, they should play Ceasefire. Peace will have a better chance.

5.0 out of 5 stars what peace truly looks like, April 18, 2009

By 

Dale Dimelo (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ceasefire (Audio CD)

This album deserves more than five stars. There aren't many CDs that I would say that of, but this one absolutely does. It's simply outstanding.

Emmanual Jal, a young Christian rapper from the south, collaberates with Abdel Gadir Salim, a Muslim master musician and singer from the north. This gesture alone, and their intention of peace, is powerful enough. But this also makes for fantastic listening! Every song is infused with longing and soulful joy, and there is no way to listen to this without being deeply affected. Jal and Abdel Gadir Salim each contribute five tracks, and on many of them they are both featured. Many of the songs, like Aiwa (which means "Yes"), have powerful rap in a mix of Nuer and other languages (including Arabic and English. The beautiful Elengwen has a more African sound, with African percussion and chorus. And this album includes a brilliant new version of Gua (you can hear his original version on the Rough Guide to Sudan), one of Jal's most powerful songs.

Abdel Gadir Salim's songs are amazing as well. On Ya Salaam, Lemon Bara, Gamearina and others, soulful melodies collide with intricate, rolling arrangements, with his trademark backing band of percussion, oud, accordion, guitar and saxophone. Abdel has a soft, soothing voice. Songs like these are truly unforgettable. And don't forget the closing song, Ceasefire, where the two musicians speak, and Jal raps over almost an acoustic reggae-inflected beat, over the traditional Sudanese song Bitzīd Min 'Adhābī (which Abdel Gadir Salim performs, with words, on the album Blues of Khartoum and Oxfam Arabia).

I cannot overstate how great this album is. It's full of joy, energy and passion. If you like African or Arabic music, this is infused with a powerful dose of both, but all you have to appreciate is fantastic music. This is a really inspiring album. I hope it can inspire people to bring peace to Sudan.