By: Natasha Archary
Zimbabwean-born amapiano artist Sha Sha joins DJ Keyez on the Ultimate Kaya 959 Top 30.
The 28-year old BET award winner, shared her birthday with DJ Keyez, ‘gifting’ listeners news that her new single is now out.
‘Ungowami’ feat Soa Mattrix is the latest offering by the sultry singer, loosely translated the track means, ‘You’re Mine.”
Her upcoming album, I’m Alive speaks about the journey Sha Sha is on and has taken to defy all the odds stacked against her.
Growing up in Mutare, Zimbabwe, Sha Sha was introduced to music by singer-songwriter and record producer, Audius Mtawarira.
“Audius is my mentor, I met him in 2013/2014 when I caught a bus to get to an interview on a radio station. I call him my dad, he’s my dad, he’s literally my father. He taught me everything, music, lyrics, songwriting, everything, I owe everything to him.”
It was in one of their sessions that Sha Sha worked with Audius to find a feature on her debut album, Blossom.
Charmaine Shamiso Mapimbiro, is now popularly known as Sha Sha, the ‘Queen of Amapiano.’
WATCH: Sha Sha’s full interview on the Ultimate Kaya 959 Top 30
From Harare to South Africa
As her career was taking off in Zimbabwe, Sha Sha moved to South Africa in 2017. Working with underground producers at the time, she spent a lot time between her home country and SA.
It was her cab driver who got her an introduction to DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small. A story that may sound unbelievable but it’s one that got Sha Sha on the local map with the hit single Tender Love.
“I was on my way to the airport, because I was spending a lot of time back and forth between home and SA. One day on my way to the airport, whilst taking a cab to the airport, my cab driver started a conversation with me. You know the usual questions, like what do you do, where you’re from…it turns out the driver was also from Zim, and he told me he knows DJ Maphorisa and he was going to get me in touch with him. So we exchanged numbers and it was legit how I met DJ Maphorisa.”
The single, Tender Love was a very personal one for Sha Sha who says the track was penned on lots of emotions relating to severe heartbreak.
“I really loved him but you know, life brings you heartbreak. It’s one of the reasons I’m still single now. There’s a lot of emotions behind Tender Love, it’s all of me poured into the words.”
For the award-winning artist, being nominated for a BET award was a very real, ‘pinch me’ moment. The singer who didn’t believe she could sing, shared with DJ Keyez that it was a very surreal experience.
Winning the award was more for her friends and family who pushed her to do something with her talent.
Also read: Emotionz DJ shares ‘Inhloso’ on the Ultimate Kaya 959 Top 30