Amapiano music is undoubtedly on the rise, with the genre capturing mainstream’s attention. The genre is more inclusive than ever, with the genre expanding its reach beyond South African soil. Sha Sha, a 27- year-old songstress who hails from Zimbabwe, is breaking continental boundaries by becoming the queen of Amapiano.
Born & raised in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Charmaine Shamiso Mapimbiro. “Growing up I sang in a choir. I thought I had a normal singing voice, I never knew people would love how I sing. It gives me so much joy to showcase my voice on a bigger platform.” Her music journey started in choir and her talent was neutered as she commenced taking piano and vocal lessons as a child.
“When I heard my voice on the radio I began dreaming of becoming a musician.” Sha Sha launched her music career in 2013, at the age of 19, after she realised that nursing wasn’t a career she’d like to pursue. Through friends, the 26-year-old artist broke into the music industry as her music was played in one of the southern African country’s biggest radio stations.This radio airplay was well-received and caught the attention of singer-songwriter Audius Mtawarira, who became her mentor, father figure and helped her with improving her craft.
Sha Sha’s affection for music grew stronger and decided to transform her passion into a career. In South Africa she befriended Blessing, a cab driver who drove her to her gigs. “I told him I was a singer and he said he used to drive DJ Maphorisa around and that he’d introduce us,” she recalls. “He did as he promised and we met at his studio where I played him some of my ballads.” Impressed with her voice, Maphorisa, Kabza De Small and Samthing Soweto worked with her on the EP and created what is considered by many as some of the best amapiano songs and she eventually became a household name in the amapiano space.
2019 saw the release of her first EP titled ‘Blossom’. The 8 track project was a collection of Afro-soul and amapiano songs. She dedicated this offering to her fans and everyone who played a role in her trajectory. “This is me appreciating people that have always been with me since I started my career in music.”
Sha Sha bagged her first international award in 2020 as she walked away with the Viewers Choice Best New International Act at the prestigious 2020 BET awards. Accepting the award, Sha Sha thanked her fans for their support and dedicated the award to those who had always stood by her. Other notable award nominations were at the South African Music Awards in 2020 she scored are for Record of The Year for “Akulaleki” (with Samthing Soweto, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small) & 2 nominations for Best Collaboration for Love You Tonight (with MFR Souls, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small) & “Tender Love” (with DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small). In 2021 she was nominated for Best Breakthrough Act at MTV Africa Music Awards.
The ‘Queen of Amapiano’ Sha Sha, teamed up with Amapiano sensation and dancer Kamo Mphela to bless us with a new single titled ‘iPiano’ which was released in December,2021.The single set the tone for what’s coming from the Queen of Amapiano as the release of her debut album is highly anticipated.
She is truly an African gem and will continue to make waves around the world.
