Sheebah Karungi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Also known asQueen Karma, Sheebah
Born
Samali Karungi

(1989-11-11) 11 November 1989 (age 36)
Kawempe, Kampala, Uganda
OriginKawempe, Kampala, Uganda[1]
Sheebah Karungi
Sheebah in 2024
Background information
Also known asQueen Karma, Sheebah
Born
Samali Karungi

(1989-11-11) 11 November 1989 (age 36)
Kawempe, Kampala, Uganda
OriginKawempe, Kampala, Uganda[1]
GenresRhythm and blues, Dancehall
OccupationsMusician, dancer, actress, businessperson
Years active2006–present[2]
LabelKarma music
Formerly ofTeam No Sleep (TNS)

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]

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]

Sheebah's second project was titled Nkwatako.[14]

Sheebah Karungi.jpg

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 how 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]

Singles

  • Farmer (Remix) - With Ykee Benda
  • Ice Cream
  • Nkwatako
  • Tunywe
  • Nakyuka
  • Kyoyina Omanya
  • Enyanda
  • Ekyaama
  • Nkwatako
  • John Rambo
  • Onkutude
  • Jealousy
  • Exercise
  • Mummy yo
  • mukama yamba
  • Nkujjukiraa
  • Somebody
  • Neyanze

Collaborations

Discography

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Queen Of Katwe Shakira Alongside Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo and Madina Nalwanga

Awards and nominations

Year Award ceremony Prize Recipient/nominated work Result Ref
The Uganda Music Awards Female Artist of The Year Herself Won [26]
2018 Abryanz styles and fashion awards Fashionable music video of The Year Herself/Mumy Yo Nominated [27]
2017 Zzina Awards Artist of The Year Herself Won [28]
Female Artist of The Year Herself Won [28]
Best Collaboration of The Year Sheebah & Ykee Benda Won [28]
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 [29]
Zzina Awards Best Female Artist Won [30]
4th HiPipo Music Awards Won [31]
Best Artist Nominated [32]
Best Afropop Song "Nipe Yote" Nominated [32]
"Otubatisa" Nominated [32]
East Africa Best Video "Siri Zari" Nominated [32]
Video of The Year Won [33]
Uganda Entertainment Awards 2016 Best Female Artist Herself Won [34]
Artist of the Year Nominated [34]
Best Dance/Live Performance Nominated [35]
Best Dancehall Artist Nominated [35]
Video of the Year "Nkwatako" Nominated [36]
2015 3rd HiPipo Music Awards Best Female Artist Herself Won [37]
Artist of the Year Nominated [38]
Best Duo Group Artist Herself with Pallaso Nominated [38]
Song of the Year "Twesana" Nominated [38]
Best Ragga Dancehall Song "Mundongo" with Pallaso Nominated [38]
Best Afrobeat Song "Twesana" Nominated [38]
Best Afropop Song "Go Down Low" with Pallaso Won [39]
Uganda Entertainment Awards 2015 Best Female Artist Herself Won [40]
Best Dancehall Artist Nominated [41]


Associated acts

See also

References

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