Sha Sha

Zimbabwean singer and songwriter Sha Sha is known as the “Queen of Amapiano”, a South African genre of music that fuses jazz, house, kwaito and other sounds. • While Sha Sha (born Charmaine Shamiso Mpambiro) was working as a waitress and receptionist, a mutual acquaintance got her airplay on one of Zimbabwe’s biggest radio stations, which connected her to the Zimbabwean singer Audius Mtawarira, who became a mentor. • On a visit to South Africa, her Zimbabwean cab driver offered to introduce her to singer and producer DJ Maphorisa, who began working with Sha Sha after hearing her music. • She was soon contributing to songs by South African singers Samthing Soweto (their “Akulaleki” was nominated for Record of the Year at the South African Awards) and Mlindo The Vocalist. • Sha Sha also appeared on the song “We’Mama” from 2019’s Scorpion Kings, a collaboration between DJ Maphorisa and South African DJ and producer Kabza De Small. • The artist released her first EP, Blossom, in 2019. The eight-track collection features contributions from Samthing Soweto and DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small. Her song “Tender Love” reached the Top 10 on four different streaming services. • In 2020, Sha Sha won Best New International Act at the BET Awards.