Track Listing

1. Aiwa
2. Elengwen
3. Ya Salam
4. Nyambol
5. Lemon Bara
6. Gua
7. Hadiya
8. Baai
9. Gamearina
10. Asabi

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77028 in Music
• Released on: 2005-09-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

From the Label
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 fusion. This incredible collaboration of a renowned maestro with a young rapper produces music bursting with intricate melodies and a central message calling for peace in Sudan.

Customer Reviews

The Peace Call & Deft Grooves of Ceasefire
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.

PS: You can find my in-depth review at futurosity.com

Excellent mix of two Sudenese voices, young and old
One based in more traditional music and one in hip hop, think the stories behind these two artists are interesting enough, but the album is a dancey move your feet affair, a few tracks could easily be played in clubs too.

Ace album, all tracks are good.