Maya Wegerif, she’s popularly known by her stage name Sho Madjozi. Her distinctive rap and fashion style inspired by her Xitsonga language and culture has proved irresistible for fans locally and around the world.
Sho Madjozi hails from the dusty streets of Elim in Limpopo but currently based in Jozi and is a breath of fresh air to the music industry, singing and rapping in Xitsonga. She is a young woman who takes pride in her culture and identity; she’s famous for her unique music, a rapper in her own language Xitsonga.
Sho Madjozi recently released her highly anticipated debut album, Limpopo Champions League last month. The album also features her hit single Huku, which put her on high rotation, and Wakanda Forever, featuring Nigerian artist Ycee, which celebrates Sho Madjozi’s love for African heritage.
The album also saw her work with South African rap luminary Kwesta on Wa Penga Na? Sho Madjozi grew up travelling the African continent with her father who worked for NGOs in countries like Tanzania, Senegal and beyond, an upbringing that influence what she is and what she stands for.
The Tsonga Queen went to the Massachusetts College in the USA, but still; she prides herself African and proud of her Xitsonga language. She has travelled a whole lot of countries within the African Continent and can speak Swahili fluently.
She began her career ghost-writing lyrics for other rappers as Maya the Poet until rapper Okmalumkoolkat encouraged her to rap. Sho Madjozi keeps proving that there is more to the “xibelani” traditional skirt she wears when performing. Last month (December 2018), she was one of the acts at the Global Citizen Festival at FNB Stadium alongside world renowned stars such as Beyonce, Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran, Black Coffee, Chris Martin and Usher to name a few.
Sho Madjozi’s star is sure to keep rising and given the pace at which her career has progressed so far, the sky is the limit. As a rapper, she has captivated and inspired something rare in the South African hip-hop scene by rapping in Xitsonga and proudly shining values and norms that build up to her being proudly Tsonga and proudly South African.
