X Factor’s Emmanuel Kelly to perform here
Australia’s X factor sensation Emmanuel Kelly will be here in Colombo to perform a series of Disability Awareness concerts on March 31, April 1 and 2. During his short visit to Sri Lanka, Emmanuel will talk about life, living with a disability and share the view that disability is a possibility
Iraqi refugees, Emmanuel and his brother Ahmed were born with physical deformities as their parents were exposed to chemical warfare during Operation Desert Storm. Emmanuel was found in a shoe- box after being left for dead and was deposited at the Mother Theresa Orphanage in Baghdad.
In 1998, Moira Kelly the famed Australian humanitarian worker discovered Emmanuel and his brother Ahmed during her travels and brought them both to Australia for medical treatment. She subsequently adopted them and in 2009, Ahmed and Emmanuel Kelly became Australian citizens.
Ahmed, a quadruple amputee and swimmer, went on to represent Australia in the 50 metre breaststroke, backstroke, 150 metre individual med- ley, and the 100 metre freestyle at the 2012 Summer Paralympics while Emmanuel became an Australian X- Factor star.
In 2011 Emmanuel told his story to the Australian judges as 1.2 million people around the world watched his performance which ended the series premiere singing the iconic John Lennon’s song, “Imagine”. X Factor judges, Ronan Keating, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Mel Brown, and Guy Sebastian all gave Emmanuel a standing ovation as the packed audience saluted a new Australian hero.
Emmanuel and several other Australian and American music stars such as Gary Pinto from the band CDB, Natasha Marie & Hussain Jiffry, the Sri Lankan born bassist from the Herb Alpert Quartet, will perform at The Qbaa Music Lounge at De Fonseka Road Colombo 5 for three consecutive nights commencing from March 31. Tickets are Rs. 1,000.