FROM boy soldier to international music star.

Emmanuel Jal will shortly be performing in the Dee Valley.

Llangollen Fringe will welcome the duo of Emmanuel Jal and Nyaruach, plus the full band, for a special concert performance at the festival.

They will be on stage at Llangollen Town Hall on Friday, July 26.

From his start in life as a child soldier in the war-torn region of Southern Sudan in the early 1980s, Emmanuel Jal has come through huge personal struggles to become a successful and acclaimed recording artist and peace ambassador.

Emmanuel's sister Nyaruach was also born in South Sudan at a similar time and was separated from the rest of her immediate family, including Jal, at the age of four.

As years went on, and the war intensified, she witnessed her family members being killed and she was raped by government officials.

It wasn't until 2004 that she was finally reunited with Jal in Nairobi.

Emmanuel Jal has collaborated and performed alongside artists such as Lauryn Hill, Peter Gabriel, Nelly Furtado, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Nile Rodgers and Alicia Keys.

Emmanuel has also co-starred with Reese Witherspoon in the Warner Brothers motion picture The Good Lie, which tells the story about the journey of four young Sudanese refugees.

NAATH, Emmanuel’s sixth studio album, is a vivacious Afrobeat alongside infectious dance tunes.

Jal and Nyaruach's music is often at odds with the image of war and poverty that has blighted South Sudan.

Instead, both artists choose to reflect upon the resilience and rich culture of their identity through their vibrant tones and messaging.

Support on the evening comes from the midlands based reggae band KIOKO, who have recently been on a UK wide tour with UB40.

Emmanuel and Nyaruach’s performance at Llangollen Fringe Festival will start at 7.30pm on July 26.

Tickets are on sale now, priced at £15.

Festival tickets and dates and times for all concerts and events are available from www.llangollenfringe.co.uk or by calling the Fringe box office on 0800 1455 779.