It took Sho Madjozi, who burst into the music industry in 2017, two years to have her name and music blow up on local and global charts and airwaves. Her debut singles, Dumi Hi Phone and Huku, which have enjoyed more than 2.8 million streams on Spotify, made her a force to be reckoned with. Since then, the singer, whose real name is Maya Wegerif, has shared stages with global household names and performed at renowned events, including the Global Citizen Festival in South Africa in 2019, which Beyonce and Jay Z headlined. One of her hit singles, John Cena, made her a global sensation.
She's achieved all this while putting her home province of Limpopo and her Tsonga heritage on the world map. She's known for her bright character, reflected in her bright, colourful hair and traditional xibelani skirt, while appealing to lovers of gqom, Afro-pop and hip-hop. Her lyrical talent sees her ink hip-hop hooks with catchy, gqom-rooted melodies, making her a trendsetter.
The year 2020 was filled with challenges when she lost her younger sister and her professional team, which took a toll on her. Since then, she's viewed fame and life through a different lens. The multi-award-winning star has returned to the scene with more hits, a best-selling children's book, Shoma and the Stars, published in December 2022, and a hair range called Sparkle Braids, which she released this year.
Six years since we've known the star, she's gained fans from all walks of life, especially children, for whom she established her Shoma Fest on 10 December. With new music on the way, she clearly has more to offer and is continuing to be a cultural trailblazer.