The Sunday Mail
Dennis Chimanzi
CHARMAINE Shamiso Mapimbiro — the Zimbabwean-born musician who has made a name for herself in South African music circles where she holds the unofficial title of “Queen of Amapiano” — is enjoying her time in the sun.
Mapimbiro is better known by her stage name Sha Sha. The multiple award-winning artiste, who was named the Best New International Act at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) awards last year, took time to reflect on her musical journey.
Born and bred in Mutare, she began her career in 2011 when he was 19.
She described ditching nursing school to pursue music as “the boldest decision” she has made in her life.
“I come from a family that puts education ahead of everything else. My family expected me to become a nurse and when I dropped out of nursing school, family members were devastated. In my view, dropping out of nursing school was the boldest decision that I have so far taken in my life,” Sha Sha, who was speaking from her South African base, said.
After working briefly with Audius Mtawarira, she later moved to South Africa in 2016.
It is the time she spent in Bulawayo that shaped her career.
“I briefly stayed in Bulawayo and that brief period changed the course of my career. I learnt Ndebele, which is very similar to Zulu, when I was in Bulawayo. The transition from Ndebele to Zulu was easy.”
When she moved to SA, she met Melusi Mhlanga, a taxi driver who later introduced her to record producer DJ Maphorisa.
“When I was first introduced to DJ Maphorisa, I was then raw and was not that confident. The record producer polished me up. Without him, I don’t think I would have gone this far,’’ Sha Sha, who is now the brand ambassador of Huawei South Africa and Beefeater UK, said.
Apart from being a brand ambassador, she also runs a talent scouting agency and is also a philanthropist. Her manager, Kevin Mwenye, said they will soon have a talent scouting exercise early next year.
“We are ready for the talent scouting exercise. We have budgeted enough money to see us through the talent identification exercise. We want to identify and give exposure to as many young Zimbabweans as possible,” he said.
In 2022, Sha Sha is expected to collaborate with two top international musicians.
Mwenye could not, however, divulge the artistes they will be working with.
