Sheebah Karungi (born 11 November 1989), professionally known as Queen Karma and Sheebah, is a Ugandan musician, dancer, actress and feminist activist.[3]
She debuted her acting career in Queen of Katwe as Shakira. After quitting Obsessions, a dance group she joined in 2006, she started making music and later rose to recognition upon the release of her hit single "Ice Cream". In 2014, she released her debut project Ice Cream, a five-track EP which did well commercially and led her to win back-to-back HiPipo Music Awards Best Female Artist in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. She also won the Artist of the Year award twice, in 2017, 2018, and 2019 at the HiPipo Music Awards. In 2024, she was appointed vice president of the Uganda National Musician Federation assisting Eddy Kenzo who is the president of the federation.[4][5]
Early life and education
Sheebah Karungi was born on 11 November 1989 and raised by a single mother Edith Kabazungu in Kawempe, a division of Kampala district.[6][7] After completing her basic education at Kawempe Muslim Primary School, she dropped out of school in senior two when she was a student of Midland High School, Kawempe.[8]
Career
At the age of 15, Sheebah started dancing for money after she joined a dance group called Stingers before she left the group for Obsessions Music Group in 2006.[9] At Obsessions she developed an interest in music, recording two songs before she left the group for a solo career in music.[10][11]
In 2010, Sheebah released "Kunyenyenza", her first official single, produced by Washington. She went on to release another song titled "Bulikyenkola", featuring vocals from KS Alpha and Prince Fahim and then "Baliwa" featuring Coco Finger. It was until she released "Automatic", a song written by Sizzaman, that her solo career experienced a major turnaround. Upon the success of "Automatic", she teamed up again with Sizzaman to release "Ice Cream" to massive airplay and positive reviews before she went on to release another hit single, "Twesana".[12][13]
In 2014, she released her first musical project, Ice Cream, a five-track EP which contained hit singles including "Ice Cream" and "Jordan". The EP was well received and helped win her Best Female Artist at the 2014 and 2015 HiPipo Music Awards.[8]
She held Nkwatako Concert in 2016 and Omwoyo Concert in 2018 at Hotel Africana in Kampala. Both concerts were organized by her management, Team No Sleep. Omwoyo Concert was choreographed by Cathy Patra who has choreographed and appeared in most of her videos. On her second concert, Omwoyo, Sheebah was criticized for her low vocal ability as a live performer.[15][16]
Sheebah is also a business woman. Under her Sheebah Investments program, she has opened a number of businesses around Kampala including The Red Bar, Red Events (co-owned with dancer Cathy Patra), a hair extension business called Sheebah by Natna, Natna Hair Founder Sina Tsegazeab and others.[17][18]
Sexual harassment
Sheebah Karungi shared a video of herself on her social media platforms in which she described of a man who had armed bodyguards sexually harassed her before a performance.[19] She stated that he had acted inappropriately in front of her team before she stepped on stage during one of her performances.[20]
Personal life
Sheebah stated that she does not intend to marry but that she might have children.[21] She revealed her pregnancy while performing at her Neyanziza concert on October 4, 2024 at Lugogo Cricket Oval, Kampala.[22] She gave birth to a healthy boy child Amir on November 24, 2024 in Canada.[23][24]
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