Emmanuel Jal & Adel Gadir Salim – Ceasefire (World Music Network)

Ceasefire (World Music Network) is an incredible collaboration between the Muslim North and predominantly Christian South of Sudan. Between former child soldier and gospel rapper Emmanuel Jal and his elder counterpart singer, composer, and oud player Abdel Gadir Salim. Both have felt first hand the violence of war, and here they come together in the spirit of reconciliation. The music is quite amazing, a fascinating adventurous amalgamation of Sudan’ musical traditions with desert blues and sequenced hip hop beats, with both artists guesting on each others tracks. Jal raps in multiple languages a smooth relaxed flow, and translations in the liner notes reveal a positive upbeat message, pleas for peace and the belief in god, his lyrics often explicitly referencing his difficult past. Though you can rarely understand the language, the message is the music itself, which is cloaked in such joy, positivity and hope for the future that it’s impossible not to get swept up in the euphoria of a new beginning.