Emmanuel Jal teams up with Shammalee and Angel Atieno on Crossover single

Co-written by Shammalee and Emmanuel Jal, ‘Crossover’ is inspired by Shammalee’s personal loss following the death of mother, with 11-year-old Kenyan artist Angel Atieno providing the vocals to the moving song.

Speaking about the collaboration, Shammalee said: “Emmanuel Jal and I are both from South Sudan [and] I saw our stories crossing paths as we have both been refugees at one point in our lives and suffered the loss of loved ones. Looking up to Jal, a fellow countryman who became successful against many odds through music, gave me the spirit to validate my dreams and the reassurance that there is always a way out.

“You can feel this energy in our collaboration which is the perfect blend of both our stories. Angel’s powerful vocals, despite her young age, bring out the meaning and inspiration behind the song.”

The song’s video was shot in Makongeni estate in Nairobi by Kenyan film director Nezzoh Montana. The visuals portray individuals who use their inner strength and resilience to ‘cross over’ and follow their vision to better themselves and those around them. 

Shammalee, real name Shama Peace Elia, is a hip hop artist, actress, script writer and a human rights activist who was born and partly raised in a refugee camp in Uganda before relocating to Kenya. She has worked with South Sudanese rap crew The Hip Hop Clinic and has been involved in a number of human rights awareness campaigns.

Angel Pamela Atieno, meanwhile, is a singer, actress and gymnast. She has made appearances on Kenyan TV series Zora, short film Finding Lulu and M-Net talk show Chozi.