Sheebah Karungi | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Samali Karungi |
Also known as | Queen Karma, Sheebah |
Born | Kawempe, Kampala, Uganda | 11 November 1989
Origin | Kawempe, Kampala, Uganda [1] |
Genres | Rhythm and blues, Dancehall |
Occupation(s) | Musical Artist, Dancer, Actress, Entrepreneur |
Years active | 2006 – present [2] |
Labels | Karma music |
Member of | Karma music |
Formerly of | Team No Sleep (TNS) |
Website | sheebahcares |
Sheebah Karungi (born 11 November 1984), 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, and 2018. 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]
Sheebah Karungi was born and raised by a single mother in Kawempe, a division of Kampala district, the capital city of Uganda. [6] 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. [7] At the age of 15, she started dancing for money after she joined a dance group called Stingers before she left the group for Obsessions Music Group in 2006. [8] At Obsessions she developed an interest in music, recording two songs before she left the group for a solo career in music. [9] [10]
In 2010, she 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". [11] [12]
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. [7]
Her second project was titled Nkwatako. [13]
Sheebah 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. [14] [15]
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. [16] [17]
Sheebah Karungi shared a video of herself on her social media platforms in which she described that a man who had armed bodyguards sexually harassed her before a performance. [18] She stated that he had acted inappropriately in front of her team before she stepped on stage during one of her performances. [19]
She has stated that she does not intend to marry but that she might have children. [20]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Queen Of Katwe | Shakira | Alongside Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo and Madina Nalwanga |
Year | Award ceremony | Prize | Recipient/nominated work | Result | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Uganda Music Awards | Female Artist of The Year | Herself | Won | [22] | |
2018 | Abryanz styles and fashion awards | Fashionable music video of The Year | Herself/Mumy Yo | Nominated | [23] |
2017 | Zzina Awards | Artist of The Year | Herself | Won | [24] |
Female Artist of The Year | Herself | Won | [24] | ||
Best Collaboration of The Year | Sheebah & Ykee Benda | Won | [24] | ||
Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards | Fashionable Music Video of the Year (Uganda) | "The Way" | Nominated | ||
2016 | Most Stylish Female Artiste (Uganda) | Nominated | |||
2016 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best African Female Artist | Herself | Nominated | [25] | |
Zzina Awards | Best Female Artist | Won | [26] | ||
4th HiPipo Music Awards | Won | [27] | |||
Best Artist | Nominated | [28] | |||
Best Afropop Song | "Nipe Yote" | Nominated | [28] | ||
"Otubatisa" | Nominated | [28] | |||
East Africa Best Video | "Siri Zari" | Nominated | [28] | ||
Video of The Year | Won | [29] | |||
Uganda Entertainment Awards 2016 | Best Female Artist | Herself | Won | [30] | |
Artist of the Year | Nominated | [30] | |||
Best Dance/Live Performance | Nominated | [31] | |||
Best Dancehall Artist | Nominated | [31] | |||
Video of the Year | "Nkwatako" | Nominated | [32] | ||
2015 | 3rd HiPipo Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Herself | Won | [33] |
Artist of the Year | Nominated | [34] | |||
Best Duo Group Artist | Herself with Pallaso | Nominated | [34] | ||
Song of the Year | "Twesana" | Nominated | [34] | ||
Best Ragga Dancehall Song | "Mundongo" with Pallaso | Nominated | [34] | ||
Best Afrobeat Song | "Twesana" | Nominated | [34] | ||
Best Afropop Song | "Go Down Low" with Pallaso | Won | [35] | ||
Uganda Entertainment Awards 2015 | Best Female Artist | Herself | Won | [36] | |
Best Dancehall Artist | Nominated | [37] | |||
Juliana Kanyomozi is a musician actress and entertainer. She is a multiple award-winning Ugandan pop musician, an R&B and Afro Beat Singer well known among Western Uganda's decent musicians. Juliana was born on 27 November 1980, at Toro Fort Portal in Western Uganda of the Mutooro tribe. She is one of Western Uganda's descent among other musicians including Angella Katatumba, Allan Toniks and Ray G.
Bebe Cool is a reggae and ragga musician from Uganda. He started his career around 1997 in Nairobi, Kenya, but moved back to his native country a few years later. Bebe Cool was one of the first artists affiliated with Ogopa DJs, a production house and record label in Kenya.
Joseph Mayanja, better known by the stage name Jose Chameleone, is a Ugandan AfroBeat artist and musician. Chameleone sings in Luganda, English, and Swahili.
Radio & Weasel was a Ugandan music Duo that performed under their record label Goodlyfe Crew a Ugandan music group with lead performers being singers Moses Radio and [Weasel Manizo]. Moses Radio provided smooth RnB vocals while Weasel's contribution is a fusion of reggae, ragga and dancehall vibes. Because of their prominence, Moses Radio and Weasel formed their own duo known as Radio and Weasel. The Lead singer Moses and Vocalist Radio died on 1 February 2018 from brain injuries after an assault by a bouncer at a club in Entebbe. Radio's attacker threw him down about 3 metres (9.8 ft) onto a concrete pavement which resulted in massive intracranial hemorrhage. Radio and Weasel also formed The Goodlyfe Crew. The crew saw many changes in its set-up but at various times included Chagga, Lenin Briton, and Lawrence. Many of its members had their own solo projects and collaborations.
Moses Nakintije Ssekibogo, also known as Mowzey Radio, sometimes referred to as Moses Radio, was a Ugandan musician. He was one of the main performers of the Ugandan music group Goodlyfe Crew together with Jose Chameleone's brother Weasel Manizo.
David Lutalo, is a Ugandan musician, artist and performer from East Africa, who rose to fame ten years back with his hit Kapapaala in 2008, released under his own Record Label "Da Hares". He started recording music in 2008 and has several solo songs to his name as well as several collaborations with Eddy Kenzo, Bebe Cool, and Goodlyfe Crew, Solid Star.
Vampino, born Elvis Kirya, is a Ugandan dance hall musician and actor who began his career in the early 2000s debuting his acting career in Nana Kagga's 2012 film, The life. He was one half of the duo "Benon and Vamposs." He is a brother to musician Maurice Kirya. He is signed to Swangz Avenue.
Alex Julius Kwesigabo, better known by his stage name Flex D'Paper, is a Ugandan rapper and songwriter born and raised in Kampala. Starting off his music career, Flex D'Paper was part of the high school rap group, The Rapaholix, which he started with friends, Dasper Cosine and later joined by Apass as an affiliate with whom the trio put out a mix tape, The Eviction Notice that included chart topping singles like "Burning", "Party Life" and "Follow Me" which topped countdowns in Uganda such as NTV and Sanyu FM. Flex D'Paper was part of the 2014 UG Cypher including the finest Ugandan rappers: Navio, Keko, Big Tril, Don MC, AirporTaxi rappers St. Nelly Sade, GNL Zamba, DJ Global, JB, The Mith, Ruyonga, and Atlas.
Undercover Brothers Ug also simply known as Undercover Brothers are a Ugandan music duo composed of guitarist and vocalist Jay K Mulungi and vocalist Timothy Kirya, whose music career sparked off when they won the auditions and represented Uganda in the sixth season of East Africa's biggest singing competition Tusker Project Fame. The duo released their first album titled At Dawn in December 2014. In December 2016, their song Nsikatila was nominated in the Best R&B Song category at HiPipo Music Awards (#HMA) 2017.
Pius Mayanja known by his stage name Pallaso is a Ugandan recording artist, songwriter, producer and videographer. His music genre specialty is Afrobeats, Hip hop, Dancehall, Afropop, and RnB. His musical journey started back in 2000 when he started out at Leone Island, a musical group owned by his older brother, Dr. Jose Chameleone. He later moved to the US, where he lived for 10 years, before returning to Uganda in 2014. Upon his return, he set out to establish his now very celebrated musical career, and formed the group, "Team Good Music" which seems to be working well in the Uganda Music Industry.
Nsikatila, sometimes spelt Nsikatira, is a world-pop love song by Ugandan music duo Undercover Brothers Ug. It was released as the second single from their first EP album and first major release, At Dawn in December (2014) and re-released in January as the first single from their 2016 album, Hitlist. Co-written by the duo's Timothy Kirya and Jay K Mulungi and produced by Jude Mugerwa, the lyrics portray a lover who stammers whenever he talks to his lover.
Nsikatila was in December 2016 nominated for Best R&B Song at the HiPipo Music Awards (HMA) 2017
Hannington Muhumuza Wacha, also simply known as Producer Hannz or Hannz Tactiq, is a Ugandan hip hop and Dancehall producer and DJ. He is the CEO of Hannz Records located in Makindye, Kampala. He has worked with most of Uganda's top hip hop and dancehall musicians including Navio, Rabadaba, Dr. Jose Chameleone, Bebe Cool, Sheebah Karungi, Mun-G and many more.
Fik Fameica also known as Fresh Bwoy, is a Ugandan rapper and songwriter. He is popularly known for showcasing his versatality in different genres including Hip-Hop, Afrobeats, Afropop and dancehall. His musical debut came in 2015 with "Pistol" under the Black Man Town music label, led by a Ugandan music icon Geosteady. His later songs, "Salawo" and "Mbega Wa Bbaala" gained him a recording contract with Kama Ivien Management. His club hit "Batuwulira" followed by "Byenyenya" made him the most booked Ugandan artist in 2017. Fik won awards in Uganda and East Africa and went on to win Uganda's most popular artist in 2017. In 2018, he was crowned Breakthrough Artist, Best in Hip-Hop and Best Rap Song for his track "Kutama" at the annual HiPipo Awards.
Namakula Mary,, commonly known as Mary Bata, is a Ugandan female songwriter and artist.
John Blaq is a Ugandan musician, songwriter & performing artist.
Ronald Magada, professionally known as Maro Uganda, is an Ugandan musician, songwriter and performer, currently based in Bonn Bad godesberg Germany. He is known for his songs, "Mubbi Bubbi" featuring David Lutalo, "Rising star", "Kyokoba", "Anjagala" and has done international features like "Chip in" featuring Mark Forster and Maurice Kirya, "Imani" by BSMG, among others.
Catherine Mbabazi commonly known as Cathy Patra is a Ugandan dancer, choreographer, fashion model and businesswoman. She won the Best Choreography in Africa award and her group RVC won Best Dancing Group in Africa at the 2021 Zikomo Awards in Zambia.
Kampala Boy is the first studio album by Ugandan musician Flex D'Paper, released on 10 December 2021. The album features guest appearances from Swae Lee on the intro and songs with Navio, Fik Fameica, A Pass, Keko, Shena skies, Wake the Poet, Mozelo Kidz, Kemishan, Lagum the rapper. The production includes Aethan Music, Mio Made, Sam Lamara, Wake the Poet, Bad Chwezi and Lucian.
Rahmah Pinky is a Ugandan musician and once an artist from Team No Sleep (TNS). She was signed to replace Sheebah Karungi, who quit the record label.
Born To Conquer (B2C) Entertainment, also known as Kampala Boys, is a Ugandan music group of three musicians who sing together. B2C is made of [Delivad Julio], [Mr. Lee B2C] and [Bobby Lash B2C]. Delivad Julio and Mr. Lee sing with soothing soft RnB vocals while Bobby Lash B2C sings the Ragga and dancehall vibes. The three formed B2C entertainment from school as they were students at Crested secondary school in Makindye Division in Kampala. Because of their consistency, the trio decided to start professional music in 2016 with their breakthrough song known as Tokigeza produced by Diggy Baur.