Sha Sha’s Biography, Early Life, Family and Beginning
Initially birthed with the name Charmaine Mapimbiro, the Shona singer was born in Mutare. A small town in Zimbabwe, in the year 1993. She was raised by her grandparents and later on, her Aunties because her parents got separated when she was still very young. The singers’ love for music dragged her to join the choir where her singing talent was discovered, she began piano lesson shortly after and she started singing in school during school plays. She knew that she could sing but she was more focused on becoming a nurse than an artist. Her friends encouraged her to participate in singing festivals that happened in Zimbabwe from time to time, these same friends later introduced her music to one of the biggest radio stations in the country. When her music began to trouble the Zimbabwean air with its melody, she met her mentor, Audius Mtawarira, an Australian based Zimbabwean singer and her music journey began.
Career Beginnings
Audius helped the young artist to get acquainted with the craft of the music industry, he also introduced her to South African producers. Despite her family’s objection and with the help of her mentor, she relocated to South Africa to pursue music professionally. She started out by working with South African rappers like Rouge and Priddy ugly, she also started singing in weddings and restaurants and her fan base began to increase little by little.
Musical Landmark
Sha sha’s musical career reached its turning point when she was introduced to DJ Maphorisa by the cab driver who drove her to her gigs, Melusi Malanga. According to Sha Sha, she used to attend gigs at night. One day, her cab driver asked her why she moved around so much in the night and she told the cab driver that she was a singer. Malanga who was also DJ Maphorisa cab driver, introduced her to the DJ shortly after. The music star played her songs for the prominent DJ, he liked her music and she got signed under his blaqboy records in 2018.
Under DJ Maphorisa’s wings, the young artist began to get more recognition from the people of South Africa and the world at large because she was featured in hit songs like ‘Akulaleki’ with Samething soweto, “tender love and sing it” with kabza de small and “Nge thanda wena”. Her unique sound added more fire to the already blazing AmaPiano sounds.
Awards and Nominations
Sha Sha was nominated for 2020 BET VIEWERS CHOICE BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL Artist along with Rema from Nigeria, Celeste, young T and Bugsey from UK and Hatik and Sracy from France.
She won the award being the first person in her country to win an international award in a long time. She expressed her excitement and disbelief during her award speech thanking her supporters back home and across the globe.
Sha Sha’s Albums
Blossom (2019)
The young artist released her debut extended play “Blossom” on the first day of November 2019. Sha Sha calls the album a product of love, hard work and courage. The album is a collection of AmaPiano songs and afro soul which she has recorded for some time. The female songstress acknowledged the people of her country in the song “mutare”, the song is also included in her debut album.
Sha Sha’s Songs
Since her debut, the songstress has released seven singles and an album. Some of which include:
Sha Sha – What’s the Fact
Sha Sha – You
We Love Sha Sha