Sho Madjozi
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	(1992-05-09)9 May 1992 (age 32) Limpopo, South Africa
Genres	Gqom Amapianoafropop hip hop
Occupations	Rapper singer songwriter poet actress
Instrument	vocals
Labels	Epic[2]
Website	shomadjozi.com

Maya Christinah Xichavo Wegerif (born 9 May 1992), known professionally asSho Madjozi (/ʃɒˈmɑːdjɔːrzɪ/shoh-mah-JOH-zee), is a South African rapper, singer, songwriter, actress and poet.^[1] Madjozi incorporates theTsonga culture through her music and public image.^[3] In 2019, Madjozi was named as one ofForbes Africa's 30 Under 30 for her contribution in the music and entertainment sector.^[4]

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 ofAfrican descent while her father is ofEuropean descent.^[5] 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, travelled regularly in particular regions of the continent, Madjozi had opportunities to travel with her father – she followed him toDar es Salaam,Tanzania, where he worked for the charitable organisationOxfam while she was a teenager.^[6] She also spent some time selling clothes at markets inSenegal during 2016 to provide for family.^[7]

After graduating high school at theInternational School of Tanganyika in Tanzania, Madjozi was offered a scholarship toMount Holyoke College inSouth Hadley,Massachusetts, US, to study creative writing andAfrican studies. While in the US, she started writing poems under the pen name of MayaThePoet.^[8] The poems were about politics, identity and race. Madjozi returned to South Africa, where she took up a fellowship in studying at theUniversity of South Africa,Johannesburg, and also plannedsongwriting for other local artists.^[9] She began rapping and composing music under her stage name "Sho Madjozi". Madjozi rose to fame after her collaboration with rapperOkmalumkoolkat on the track "Ngiyashisa Bhe" and the hit single "Gqi".^[10][11]

In April 2017, Madjozi made her television appearance as one of the casts ofMzansi Magic drama telenovelaIsithembiso. She played Tsakane Mboweni – a character passionately involved in student politics – for the inaugural season.^[12]

Madjozi released her debut single, "Dumi HiPhone", featuring disc jockey duo PS DJz, on 28 April 2017, which was well received by the public.^{[citation needed]} The song didn't make it to the final track listing on Madjozi's debut album. She also appeared onDJ MaphorisaBlaqBoy Music Presents Gqom Wave (2017), where she was featured on the track "Probleme".^[13] On 9 March 2018, she released the lead single "Huku" from her debut album.^[14] 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.^[15] In August, Madjozi alongside singerChris Martin announced and explained how the entry works of theGlobal Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, through a YouTube video uploaded byGlobal Citizen. Later on 2 December 2018, Sho Madjozi performed at the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, which was headlined byBeyonce andJay-Z.^[16]

Limpopo Champions League, Madjozi's debut studio album, was released on 14 December 2018.^[17] The album was also supported by the 5-minute short-filmTrickshot composed by several tracks from the album.^[18] On 1 June 2019, Madjozi earned two wins at the 25th edition ofSouth African Music Awards forNewcomer 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 forLimpopo Champions League.^[19] As for 23 June 2019, Madjozi received aBET Award for Best New International Act at theBET Awards 2019.^[20]

In July 2019, Madjozi was named by the Forbes magazine amongst the 30 under 30 creatives category list for his contribution to themusic and entertainment sector,^[21] the list featured other young African creatives like Nigerian musicianBurna Boy, South African actress, TV and radio personalityThando Thabethe, Ghanaian contemporary artistJoseph Awuah-Darko, also known as Okuntakinte and Kenyan film director, producer andscreenwriterNjue Kevin.^[22][23]

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 wrestlerJohn Cena.^[24][25] Thegqom-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.^[26] Madjozi was praised for the song by many notable people, including rapperMissy Elliott, who retweeted her video on her Twitter page, whilst professional wrestler John Cena posted Madjozi on hisInstagram account.^[27][28] She later released "John Cena" as an official single on 27 September 2019.^[29] On 7 November 2019, Madjozi appeared onThe 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.

At 4th ceremony of Mzansi Kwaito and House Music Awards, she won Best Gqom Artist award.^[30]

In July 2020, she was reportedly signed to U.S. label Epic Records.^[31]

On 27 November 2020, Madjozi first mixtapeWhat a Life was released.^[32] It featuresMakhadzi andDr Thomas Chauke.^[33]

On 22 November, 2022, Madjozi performed atMadison Square Garden, opening forStromae.^[34][35]

Madjozi uses incorporatesTsonga elements in her music and fashion. She commonly plays with the traditional wear. Madjozi usually performs the indigenousxibelani dance where she wears a skirt called atinguvu.^[36][37] Besides her culture-influenced style, Madjozi dismisses a colourful image with many elements attached.

Madjozi is well known for her hairstyles influenced byFulani andTuareg women.^[38] The ethnic hairstyles influenced girls and women which became a trend mainly from her breakthrough year (2016) in South Africa and other regions.^{[citation needed]} For her hair, she has been inspired byBoom Shaka andblack American hairstyles.^[39] Discussing her hair, Majozi said "My braids representAfro futurism. The question is: what would a globalised young African be if she was not interrupted by the horror of colonialism andapartheid? My braids are the answer."^[40]

In addition to her nativeTsonga, Madjozi is also fluent inSwahili. Her songs incorporate both languages as well asEnglish.

• 1992 births
• Living people
• South African women rappers
• People from Limpopo
• South African women poets
• University of South Africa alumni
• Mount Holyoke College alumni
• Tsonga people
• Hip-hop singers
• Swahili-language singers of South Africa
• English-language singers from South Africa
• Tsonga women
• 21st-century South African women singers

• CS1 French-language sources (fr)
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from April 2020
• Use British English from August 2018
• Articles with hCards
• Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts
• All articles with unsourced statements
• Articles with unsourced statements from May 2020
• Articles with unsourced statements from December 2023