MUSIC(^) C
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t the 2019 BET Awards, South African hip-hop star Sho Madjozi
had two goals: enjoy herself immensely and meet as many people as
she could. Not only was she nominated as one of the Best
New International Acts, but it was also her first time in L.A. So Madjozi repeatedly
told herself, “I’m going to have an amazing time regardless of what happens.”
Her award was presented during the preshow live stream, when host Terrence
J announced the winner. Clearly distracted by the moment, the 27-year-old gen-
uinely began congratulating Nigerian singer Teni the Entertainer. But as she was
warmly embracing Teni, Teni must have whispered, “You won.” What happened
next can only be described as Madjozi losing her s--t. Her lilac, Fulani-styled
braids started bouncing emphatically as the gravity of the news hit her.
“I never really expected to reach those heights without the backing of a
big label or something,” she says days later and still in shock. That’s right.
Madjozi, born Maya Wegerif to a South African
mother and a Swedish father, has been racking
up a number of big wins as an independent art-
ist. She released her first album, Limpopo Cham-
pions League, in December 2018. Twelve days
before its release, she performed a string of its
gqom-infused (a widely popular style of South
African house music) tracks, such as “Huku”
and “Wakanda Forever,” at the Mandela 100
celebration in Johannesburg.
“The first Global Citizen concert in Africa
was a huge platform for me,” says Madjozi,
who found new fans around the world, includ-
ing director Ava DuVernay. She tweeted, “Sho
Madjozi is one of the highlights of my trip to
South Africa. Yes!” Back at the BET Awards in
June, she snagged a photo with Cardi B, who
told Madjozi, “You remind me of me when I
won my first award.”
The poet turned rapper’s winning streak inter-
sects with a number of African artists who are
breaking through on American radio, including
Davido, Burna Boy and Tina Savage. “To be an
African making music at this time is a blessing.
The world is ready to listen,” says Madjozi, who next month joins the likes of
Anderson .Paak, Brittany Howard and FKA Twigs at AfroPunk Atlanta. However,
she hopes the embrace of these artists isn’t only an instance neatly packaged
for consumers to throw away once the buzz wears off. “The idea of Afrobeats
becoming a global sensation, that alone doesn’t excite me,” she says. “It’s only
exciting if Africans actually benefit from it in a genuine way. If Africans are at
the center of conversation, that’s exciting.”
Another source of pride for Madjozi: staying authentic to her
rural Tsonga culture through performing in its language—and Swahili—
and wearing a voluminous, traditional Xibelani skirt, with her own
spin. “I wear mine quite short,” she says with a laugh. It’s at the cen-
ter of who she is as an artist and a woman. “Everything I tried to do is
that reimagining of, What would it look like to be a young Tsonga
woman in the world? What would it look like if I hadn’t been told that my
culture was dead? If I wasn’t told that Africans don’t contribute anything
good, then what would I look like? I would probably have braids, and that’s
what I have. I would probably wear a short Xibelani like I do. I want to take
my culture with me. I don’t want to leave parts of me behind so that I can
live in a globalized world.” Thankfully, the world is coming to her.
I want to take
my culture
with me. I
don’t want to
leave parts of
me behind.”
—SHO MADJOZI
Madjozi (above and left)
performs at the Global
Citizen Festival: Mandela
100 concert last December
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ESSENCE.COM I 64 I SEPTEMBER 2019