"It still gives me nightmares when I talk about it. When you see your home destroyed and the people you love are killed, you need somewhere to put

your pain.

"I put my pain into the church and I found my strength and my survival and my source of inspiration there."

One of Africa's most famous rappers, Emmanuel Jal's story is as remarkable as his mix of streetwise hip-hop, rootsy Sudanese beats and spoken word, which moves seamlessly between English, Arabic, Swahili, Dinka and his first language, Nuer.

Born in war-torn Sudan, orphaned Emmanuel became a child soldier and struggled for five years to survive alone in the bush. He was forced to contemplate cannibalism and suicide before he was eventually adopted by British aid worker Emma McCune and smuggled to safety in Kenya.

Emma died soon after in a car crash, but Emmanuel stayed on in Nairobi, put his faith in Christianity and began to find his voice amid Africa's furiously fertile hip-hop scene.

Before long, he was organising concerts for Nairobi's homeless children and refugees such as himself, had formed several groups including the Reborn Warriors and began penning his soulful and poetic songs, which have more in common with Linton Kwesi Johnson and Bob Marley than Snoop Dogg. "I don't want to rap about women, violence and swearing," says Emmanuel. "These are not my principles."

Emmanuel eventually produced his own single, All You Need Is Jesus, and then Gua meaning peace which went to number one in Kenya.

The latter track featured on his debut album, Ceasefire (2005), which was recorded with Sudanese Muslim oud player and singer Abdel Gadir Salim. Their collaboration became a powerful symbol of hope for a peaceful future for their country.

Now Emmanuel is working on his second album, War Child. He says: "I agreed to train as a soldier because I wanted revenge. Later, when I learned about Jesus and people like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, I realised whatever my enemy has done, if I can love them, then I will be at peace.

"This is my message. I am trying to make a difference in the world."

A documentary about Emmanuel is currently in the pipeline and Emma's story is being made into a film, Emma's War, by Tony and Ridley Scott, with Nicole Kidman in the lead role.

Starts 8pm, tickets cost £12.50. Call 01273 709709