Trending in Sha Sha’s World
Latest Album
I'm Alive
Released Sep 23, 2022
Trending Globally
and US
Story
Quick Facts
Born
1994
1994
From
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Journey
Charmaine Shamiso Mapimbiro, known globally as Sha Sha, is a Zimbabwean-born singer and songwriter who has become the definitive female voice of the Amapiano genre. Born in Mutare, Zimbabwe, she navigated a nomadic childhood following her parents' separation, living across various cities in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa.
Her musical foundation was laid in church choirs and through childhood piano lessons. Despite her obvious talent, she initially viewed music as a hobby and was destined for a career in nursing. Her trajectory changed when a friend submitted her recordings to a major Zimbabwean radio station, where they received immediate acclaim. This led to a mentorship with Audius Mtawarira, and she eventually relocated to South Africa in 2017 to pursue music professionally.
Sha Sha’s breakthrough is the stuff of industry legend: her Zimbabwean cab driver in Johannesburg, upon learning she was a singer, introduced her to the renowned producer DJ Maphorisa. This meeting birthed a series of high-profile collaborations with Maphorisa and Kabza De Small (the Scorpion Kings), including hits like "Akulaleki" and "Love You Tonight". These tracks defined the soulful, melodic side of Amapiano and earned her the title "Queen of Amapiano".
In 2019, she released her debut EP, Blossom, featuring the triple-platinum single "Tender Love". Her meteoric rise was validated internationally in 2020 when she won the BET Award for Best New International Act, becoming the first Zimbabwean artist to achieve this feat. Her debut full-length album, I’m Alive (2022), showcased her versatility beyond dance music, incorporating R&B and Afrobeats while exploring themes of resilience and spiritual growth. Today, Sha Sha continues to bridge African cultures, singing in Shona, Ndebele, and English, and remains a central figure in Amapiano’s global expansion.
