Amapiano Queen Sha Sha releazes Themba Lami this Women’s Month
Single comes ahead of album drop and features Ami Faku
By CityLife Arts Writer
Sha Sha, the Queen of Amapiano, has teamed up with modern Afro Soul songstress Ami Faku to deliver “Themba Lami” available today on all digital platforms. Listen here.
“Themba Lami” is the second single from Sha Sha’s upcoming album ‘I’M Alive’ and comes after she dropped “Ungowami” to launch the album pre-order. “Themba Lami”was born out of the heartbreak and break up stories shared by Sha Sha and Ami during a studio session.
Speaking about the single, Sha Sha shared,“‘Themba Lami’ is about how we as women keep giving so much to men, but don’t get it back. It shows women’s vulnerability (which can be toxic sometimes). We decided to put all of that in a record and I hope everyone enjoys it.”
The Sha Sha and Ami collaboration was inevitable, given the chemistry between the two songstresses and their unique, yet complementary, music and overall styles. The two are also friends who have worked together before so a collaboration for Sha Sha’s album was only a matter of time.
Reflecting on how the collaboration came about, Sha Sha says after connecting with Ami on Instagram, the two worked on three songs. “This was at the time we worked on Nomfundo Moh’s ‘Phakade Lami’. Our heartbreak and love stories are all embedded in this track one way the other.”
The video for ‘Themba lami’ was shot on Wednesday 27th July in the leafy suburbs of Houghton, Johannesburg inside a grand Victorian-style house. Instead of aiming for a confrontational approach, the video’s creative centres around a more authentic and honest approach that allows audiences to see and understand ‘trust’ from a loving woman’s point of view.
The music video is made up of a trio of main scenes, with love being the overarching theme and connects to the track’s title – “Themba Lami” – with moments that capture the true essence of the sisterhood at the heart of this collaboration.
Music video director Lenzo Dlamini explained the inspiration behind the track: “When you listen to the song you get a sense of how intimate it is. I went with a feel and concept that is more inviting into the artists’ personal space, matching the message of the song. We create spaces and setting that feels like it’s like their own rooms where they can confide in one another.”
The video will drop during Women’s Month, leading up to the release of ‘I’M Alive’.
Sha Sha, who hails from Mutare in Zimbabwe, has rapidly ascended the music industry to claim the “queen of amapiano” title through a slate of high-profile collaborations as well as her own releases. She appears on the current South African number one hit – Nomfundo Moh’s “Phakade Lami” featuring Sha Sha and Ami Faku and her collaboration with serial hit maker Kamo Mpela, “iPiano”, has recently been released as a music video. Watch Here.
An incredible example of breaking continental boundaries, Sha Sha launched her music career in 2013, aged just 19. From being recognised and nurtured by singer-songwriter Audius Mtawarira, she ultimately connected with DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small and Samthing Soweto who worked with her on her debut EP, Blossom.
Released in 2019, the EP quickly ensured Sha Sha became a household name in the amapiano space through a collection of eight tracks that also showcased Sha Sha’s ability to deliver beautiful Afro-soul songs and the sheer versatility of amapiano.
Sha Sha earned her first international award in 2020 when she took home the Viewer’s Choice Best New International Act award at the prestigious BET Awards, becoming the first Zimbabwean to receive the honor. Other notable accolades have been for her top-drawer collaborations and include Record of The Year for “Akulaleki”, with Samthing Soweto, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small, at the 2020 South African Music Awards. She also received SAMA nominations for Best Collaboration for “Love You Tonight” (with MFR Souls, DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small) and “Tender Love” (with DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small) – and in 2021 she was nominated for Best Breakthrough Act at the MTV Africa Music Awards.
Stream and download ‘Themba Lami’ Here