Sho Madjozi
Sho Madjozi | |
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![]() Sho Madjozi performing at an Edgars Fashion Show in March 2019 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Maya Christinah Xichavo Wegerif |
Also known as | MayaThePoet[1] |
Born | Limpopo, South Africa | 9 May 1992
Genres | |
Occupations | |
Website | shomadjozi |
Maya Christinah Xichavo Wegerif (born 9 May 1992), known professionally as Sho Madjozi (/ʃɒˈmɑːdjɔːrzɪ/ shor-mah-JOR-zee), is a South African rapper, singer, songwriter, actress and poet.[1] Regarded as one of the best performers in Africa, Madjozi incorporates the Tsonga culture through her music and public image.[2]
Life and career
1995: Early life and beginnings
Madjozi was born on 9 May 1992, in Shirley Village, Elim, Limpopo, the daughter of Rosemary Phaweni and Marc Wegerif who ran a non-governmental organisation which was made to assist people with their land claims. Her mother is of African descent while her father is of European descent.[3] After her parents divorced at an early age, she was mainly brought up by her mother. Madjozi has half-sisters from both her mother's and father's sides. As her father, Marc Wegerif, traveled regularly in particular regions of the continent, Madjozi had opportunities to travel with her father – she followed him to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania where he worked for the charitable organisation Oxfam while she was a teenager.[4] She also spent some time selling clothes at markets in Senegal during 2016 in order to provide for family.[5]
After graduating high school in Tanzania, Madjozi was offered a scholarship to Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, US to study creative writing and African studies. While in the US, she started writing poems under a pen name of MayaThePoet.[6] The poems were about politics, identity and race. Madjozi returned to South Africa where she took up a fellowship in studying at the University of South Africa, Johannesburg, while also planned songwriting for other local artists.[7] After her return to South Africa, she began rapping and composing music under her stage name "Sho Madjozi". Madjozi rose to fame after her collaboration with rapper Okmalumkoolkat on the track "Ngiyashisa Bhe" and the hit single, "Gqi".[8][9]
2017–present: Limpopo Champions League
On April 2017, Madjozi made her television appearance as one of the casts of Mzansi Magic drama telenovela Isithembiso. She played Tsakane Mboweni – character passionately involved in student politics – for the inaugural season.[10]
Madjozi released her debut single, "Dumi HiPhone" featuring disc jockey duo PS DJz, on 28 April 2017 which was well received by the public.[11] The song didn't make it to the final track listing on Madjozi's debut album. She also appeared on DJ Maphorisa BlaqBoy Music Presents Gqom Wave (2017) where she was featured on the track "Probleme".[12] On 9 March 2018, she released the lead single "Huku" from her debut album.[13] On 27 June 2018, Trace Urban South Africa announced their partnership with Madjozi, making her the ambassador for their mobile pre-paid provider TRACE Mobile.[14] On August, Madjozi alongside singer Chris Martin announced and explained how the entry works of the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, through a YouTube video uploaded by Global Citizen. Later on 2 December 2018, Sho Madjozi performed at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 which was headlined by Beyonce and Jay-Z.[15]
Limpopo Champions League, Madjozi's debut studio album was released on 14 December 2018.[16] The album was also supported by the 5-minute short-film Trickshot composed by several tracks from the album.[17] On 1 June 2019, Madjozi earned two wins at the 25th edition of South African Music Awards for Newcomer of the Year and for Best Female Album. She also received nominees for categories: Best Music Video for "Huku" and for Best Kwaito, Gqom & AmaPiano Album for Limpopo Champions League.[18] As for 23 June 2019, Madjozi received a BET Award for Best New International Act at the BET Awards 2019.[19]
On 15 August 2019, Madjozi was featured on the global music platform COLORS, where she performed her song "John Cena" commonly named and inspired by professional wrestler John Cena.[20][21] The gqom-genre song trended on regions, mainly in South Africa as it reached two-million views which is a favourable success for the [COLOURS] music platform.[22] Madjozi was praised for the song by many notable people, including rapper Missy Elliott who she retweeted her video on her Twitter page, whilst professional wrestler John Cena posted Madjozi on his Instagram account.[23][24] She later released "John Cena" as an official single on 27 September 2019.[25] On 7 November 2019, Madjozi appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show to talk about the song. While performing as a guest, John Cena came from backstage to surprise her. The video of her reaction went viral, as she said it was a dream of hers to meet Cena himself.
Public image
Madjozi uses a Tsonga signature style concerning her music and fashion sense. Being unapologetically proud of her culture, Tsonga, she commonly plays with the traditional wear. Madjozi usually performs the indigenous xibelani dance where she wears a skirt called a tinguvu around her waist, then shakes the waist which creates attentiveness on her performances.[26][27] Besides her culture-influenced style, Madjozi dismisses a colorful image with many elements attached. Superbalist writer Kenny Morifi-Winslow added, "I think there is an interesting transfer of energy when our favorite parts of public figures become the things that we hid from ourselves or tried to change", commending Madjozi.[28]
Hairstyles
"My braids represent Afro futurism. The question is: what would a globalised young African be if she was not interrupted by the horror of colonialism and apartheid? My braids are the answer."
—Madjozi on her appealing hairstyles[29]
Madjozi is well-known for her hairstyles influenced by Fulani and Tuareg women.[30] The ethic hairstyles influenced girls and women which became a trend mainly from her breakthrough year (2016) in South Africa and other worldwide regions. She also took inspiration from the music group Boom Shaka female vocalists, Thembi Seete and the late Lebo Mathosa, and also singer Thandiswa Mazwai's iconic braids.[31]
Awards and nominations
Year | Award Ceremony | Prize | Work/Recipient | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | South African Music Awards | Female Artist Of The Year[32] | Limpopo Champions League | Won |
Best Newcomer | Herself | Won | ||
Best Music Video | "Huku" | Nominated | ||
Best Kwaito, Gqom or Amapiano Album | Limpopo Champions League | Nominated | ||
BET Awards 2019 | Best New International Act[33] | Herself | Won | |
AFRIMA[34] | Best Newcomer | Nominated | ||
Best Female Southern Africa | Nominated | |||
AFRIMA Video of The Year | "Idhom" | Nominated | ||
African Talent Awards[35] | Best African Song of the Year | "John Cena" | Nominated | |
2020 DSTV Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards | Herself | Favorite Personality Of The Year | Pending | |
Herself | Favorite Music Artist/Group | Pending |
Discography
Studio album
Title | Album details |
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Limpopo Champions League |
|
Singles
Title | Details | Certifications | Album |
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"Dumi HiPhone" (with PS DJz) |
|
— | Non-album single |
"Huku"[36] |
|
Limpopo Champions League | |
"Wakanda Forever"[38] |
|
| |
"Idhom"[39] |
|
— | |
"John Cena"[40] |
|
— | Non-album single |
"Kona"[41] |
|
— | Limpopo Champions League |
Promotional singles
Title | Details | Album |
---|---|---|
"Don't Tell Me What To Do" [42] |
|
Limpopo Champions League |
References
- ^ a b "Sho Madjozi Biography". amdb.co. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ Amira Rasool. "Sho Madjozi Is the South African Gqom Pop Star Making Pan-African Music". Paper Magazine.
- ^ "5 Interesting Facts About Sho Madjozi!". Peoples Magazine.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi's musical lineage is larger than large". Mail & Guardian.
- ^ Makgalemele, Thembisile (26 May 2018). "Sho Majozi: 'I used to sell clothes at a market in Senegal to make ends meet '". Channel 24. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Dee, Christa. "Maya the Poet becomes Sho Madjozi: Tsonga rap and the preservation of home". Bubble Gum Club.
- ^ Tseliso Monaheng. "Sho Madjozi is manifesting her pan-African dreams". The Fader. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
- ^ "Okmalumkoolkat - Ngiyashisa Bhe! Ft. Sho Madjozi Lyrics & Video". AMDb.
- ^ "New Release: Okmalumkoolkat - Gqi". SA Hip Hop Mag.
- ^ "SHO MADJOZI GETS TV ROLE!". Daily Sun.
- ^ "Dumi HiPhone by Sho Madjozi". Apple Music.
- ^ "Probleme (feat. Sho Madjozi & DJ Hu Nose) - DJ Maphorisa Song". BBC.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi FINALLY Drops New Single, Huku". Zkhiphani.com.
- ^ "WATCH THE FULL TRACE Mobile & Sho Madjozi partnership launch". Zkhipani.
- ^ Hlalethwa, Zaza (4 December 2018). "Global Citizen: Preaching the good news according to Madiba". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ Sabelo Mkabela (14 December 2018). "Listen to Sho Madjozi's Debut Album 'Limpopo Champions League' Featuring Kwesta, pH, Makwa, Ycee and More". Okay Africa. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi releases Trickshot film for Valentine's Day". Bona Magazine.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi makes her mark at #SAMA25". TimesLIVE.
- ^ "BET Awards 2019: Sho Madjozi wins big, complete winners list". The South African.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi is the Next Artist on International Platform 'COLORS' - Cosmopolitan". Cosmopolitan.
- ^ "WATCH: Sho Madjozi's electric COLORS performance". Bona Magazine.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi's 'John Cena' hits two million views on YouTube in just two weeks". TimesLIVE.
- ^ "Here's what John Cena thinks of Sho Madjozi after she named a track after him". TimesLIVE.
- ^ Murugi Gichovi. "South African BET award winner Sho Madjozi impresses Kenyans with yet another Swahili rap song". Capital FM.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi officially drops viral hit 'John Cena' and shares inspo behind it". 702.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi and her unique style sum up everything that's right about SA right now". W24.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi on Pitch Black Afro, bringing the Xibelani to the club, and more in First Times video". The FADER.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi: Heritage In The Here & Now". IIIRD CITIZEN.
- ^ Browning-de Villiers, Sarah (20 March 2019). "#HERitage: Sho Madjozi on Braids". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
- ^ "Tsonga Rapper Sho Madjozi Is the Radical New Poster Child for Pan-African Pride". Vogue.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi on all things hair and braids". W24.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi makes her mark at #SAMA25". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
- ^ "FROM THE VILLAGE TO A SUPERSTAR: SHO MADJOZI WINS BET AWARD". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- ^ DAMOLA, DUROSOMO (7 August 2019). "Here are the 2019 AFRIMMA Nominees". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Best African song of the year – African Talents Awards" (in French). Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Huku - Single by Sho Madjozi". Apple Music. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ a b Sho Madjozi (confirmed account) [@ShoMadjozi] (14 December 2019). "This album has produced 1 platinum single (Huku), 1 gold single (Wakanda), 2 SAMA Awards and 1 BET Award. It has put me on stages around the globe and got me on the covers Elle, Cosmopolitan, Bona etc. Happy birthday Limpopo Champions League 🎉" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "SHO MADJOZI – "WAKANDA FOREVER" FT. YCEE". African Muzik Magazine. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ "This is the heartbreak that inspired Sho Madjozi's new song". Channel24. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi officially drops viral hit 'John Cena' and shares inspo behind it". Cape Talk.
- ^ "Sho Madjozi 'Kona'". OkayAfrica.
- ^ "Limpopo Champions League by Sho Madjozi". Apple Music.