Sheebah Karungi

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Sheebah Karungi
Sheebah Artist of the Year (2016-2017, 2017-2018).jpg
Sheebah Karungi in 2022
Background information
Birth nameSamali Karungi
Also known asQueen Karma, Sheebah
Born (1989-11-11) 11 November 1989 (age 34)
Kawempe, Kampala, Uganda
Origin Kawempe, Kampala, Uganda [1]
Genres Rhythm and blues, Dancehall
Occupation(s) Musical Artist, Dancer, Actress, Entrepreneur
Years active2006 – present [2]
LabelsKarma music
Member ofKarma music
Formerly ofTeam No Sleep (TNS)
Website sheebahcares.org

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]

Contents

Early life and career

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 Karungi.jpg Sheebah Karungi.jpg
Sheebah Karungi.jpg

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]

Sexual harassment

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]

Personal life

She has stated that she does not intend to marry but that she might have children. [20]

Singles

Collaborations

Discography

Studio albums

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2016 Queen Of Katwe ShakiraAlongside Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo and Madina Nalwanga

Awards and nominations

YearAward ceremonyPrizeRecipient/nominated workResultRef
The Uganda Music AwardsFemale Artist of The YearHerselfWon [22]
2018Abryanz styles and fashion awardsFashionable music video of The YearHerself/Mumy YoNominated [23]
2017Zzina AwardsArtist of The YearHerselfWon [24]
Female Artist of The YearHerselfWon [24]
Best Collaboration of The YearSheebah & Ykee BendaWon [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 ArtistHerselfNominated [25]
Zzina AwardsBest Female ArtistWon [26]
4th HiPipo Music AwardsWon [27]
Best ArtistNominated [28]
Best Afropop Song"Nipe Yote"Nominated [28]
"Otubatisa"Nominated [28]
East Africa Best Video"Siri Zari"Nominated [28]
Video of The YearWon [29]
Uganda Entertainment Awards 2016Best Female ArtistHerselfWon [30]
Artist of the YearNominated [30]
Best Dance/Live PerformanceNominated [31]
Best Dancehall ArtistNominated [31]
Video of the Year"Nkwatako"Nominated [32]
20153rd HiPipo Music AwardsBest Female ArtistHerselfWon [33]
Artist of the YearNominated [34]
Best Duo Group ArtistHerself with Pallaso Nominated [34]
Song of the Year"Twesana"Nominated [34]
Best Ragga Dancehall Song"Mundongo" with PallasoNominated [34]
Best Afrobeat Song"Twesana"Nominated [34]
Best Afropop Song"Go Down Low" with PallasoWon [35]
Uganda Entertainment Awards 2015Best Female ArtistHerselfWon [36]
Best Dancehall ArtistNominated [37]


Associated acts

  1. Ykee Benda
  2. Fik Fameica
  3. Roden Y Kabako
  4. Chance Nalubega
  5. Runtown
  6. Solidstar
  7. Carol Nantongo
  8. Meddy
  9. Alvin Kizz
  10. The Ben
  11. John Blaq
  12. Grenade Official
  13. Irene Ntale
  14. Selector Jeff
  15. Orezi
  16. Ahdi weezy ke

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