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Released Feb 3, 2023
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Quick Facts
Born
1992
1992
From
South Africa
South Africa
Journey
Maya Christinah Xichavo Wegerif, better known by her stage name Sho Madjozi, was born on 9 May 1992 in Shirley Village, Elim, in the Limpopo province of South Africa. She's the daughter of Rosemary Phaweni, a South African woman who worked in municipal service, and Marc Wegerif, her Swedish father, who led a non-governmental organization focused on land rights and later worked with Oxfam. Her parents separated when she was young, and she was primarily raised by her mother. Madjozi also has half-sisters from both her mother's and father's sides. Her upbringing was deeply influenced by matriarchal pillars: she grew up surrounded by Tsonga women who celebrated tradition often dressing in colorful attire for beauty which left a lasting impact on her sense of identity and aesthetics.
Maya spent part of her adolescence accompanying her father across Africa, living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and briefly in Senegal, which exposed her to Swahili, French, and diverse African cultures. After finishing high school at the International School of Tanganyika in Tanzania, she earned a scholarship to Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, USA, where she studied Creative Writing and African Studies. During that time, she wrote spoken-word poetry under the pseudonym MayaThePoet, exploring themes like identity, politics, and race. Later, she returned to South Africa, pursued further study at the University of South Africa (UNISA), and began songwriting for local artists.
Upon her return home, she adopted the stage name Sho Madjozi, inspired by a character from the South African soap opera Generations. Her breakthrough came through collaborations with Okmalumkoolkat, including tracks like “Ngiyashisa Bhe” and “Gqi”. Her debut album, "Limpopo Champions League," released around 2018, featured standout singles like “Huku”, “Dumi Hi Phone”, and “Kona”, and truly introduced her vibrant Tsonga-infused sound to the world. In 2019, her track “John Cena” took off, especially her live session on COLORSxSTUDIOS, which not only went viral but also captured the attention of names like Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Missy Elliott, and even John Cena himself.
Sho Madjozi’s music is a colorful fusion of Gqom, Amapiano, Afro-pop, hip-hop, and spoken word poetry, often incorporating lyrics in Tsonga, Swahili, English, and even French. Visually, she stands out with bold traditional attire, Fulani and Tuareg-inspired hairstyles, and vibrant accessories, a blend of Pan-African aesthetics that honors her heritage with modern flair.
Sho Madjozi’s rise to prominence was marked by an impressive string of accolades that celebrated both her groundbreaking music and her vibrant public persona. At the 25th South African Music Awards (SAMAs) in 2019, she captured the coveted Newcomer of the Year and Female Artist of the Year titles for her debut album "Limpopo Champions League." That same year, she made history as the first South African artist to win the BET Award for Best New International Act. Her momentum carried on into 2020 when she earned the title of Favourite African Star at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, beating out other top contenders in a fan-voted category. In addition, Sho Madjozi was honored in 2019 as one of Forbes Africa’s “30 Under 30”, acknowledging her significant influence in the music and entertainment space. More recently, in 2021, she returned to the SAMAs stage, winning the Sofnfree Female Artist of the Year award for her project What A Life.
Sho Madjozi’s creativity extends beyond music. Inspired by her young fans, she authored a children’s book titled Shoma and the Stars, beautifully illustrated by Katlego Keokgale. She’s also embraced her role as a fashion icon, using her signature style to express cultural pride and empower young Africans to embrace their roots rather than conform to Western norms.