… Makes case for Zambian music industry.
…Lauds Nigerian musicians for making Africa proud.
It was an emotional moment on the Biografrica’s African Spotlight Series leadoff as Shadaya, a Zambian music star and philanthropist making a quick rise in the country’s music industry, made a shocking revelation of what led her to embark on raising 10,000 sanitary pads for orphanages in Zambia.
The “Bad Energy” chanteuse who played guest on the Biografrica’s series recently, expressed concern for women’s welfare, noting that her WAI Foundation (Women Are Important Foundation) came into existence in 2019 to empower women, and men along the line. She noted that the need to address some challenges peculiar to women and girls in Zambia propelled her to kick-start the foundation.
Speaking on the Series, Shadaya explained that “There was one time I didn’t have a pad and it was messy. So when you experience such things, you think about other people who do not have that, like what do they do and how do they feel?.
She further explained that menstruation is a natural phenomenon that can expose women to mockery if not managed well. And to contain this, she alongside her team, handed 10,000 sanitary pads to Zambia’s Minister of Gender Issues to distribute to small districts in Lusaka.
“Giving back is very important to me. And with the way my mindset has changed, with the way women now empower themselves and stand up for each other, the fact that most women no longer want to be just seen but heard, and need to teach women the great importance of building self-love, I came on with the foundation to help women become outspoken and discover themselves more and be who they really want to be.” Shadaya noted.
The music star whose original name is Shadia meaning ‘she sings’ in Arabic, rose to fame after releasing her smash hits; ‘Bad Energy’, ‘Mad Over You’, ‘Like Dat‘, ‘No Money No Honey’, ‘Oxygen’, and the ‘Runtown’ featuring Nigeria’s Waje. The beautiful songstress who could not help but rave about some Nigerian music stars who are making Africa proud in the global scene, regretted that in Zambia, great talents like Salma Sky and a few others including herself, put in so much effort into music, release songs back to back with great feedback, but end up receiving little or no recognition for their efforts.
Taking viewers down the memory lane on her debut in the music industry, Shadaya narrated how she began singing and dancing way back in school and how her schoolmates applauded her performances back then. She however decried how the slow work ethics in Zambia’s music industry and the poor quality of sound production therein when compared to first world countries tend to slow down the progress of some Zambian musicians including herself.
“I feel we do not have our own sound as Zambians as obtained in other African countries. I do not like to compare so to say, but I mean when you hear Congo, Nigerian or even South African music, you know it’s them. But we lack that here in Zambia” She lamented.
Though acknowledging the efforts of a few Zambian musicians who have come up with their own sounds individually, making sure that Zambian music industry gets to its unique place globally, the Lusaka-born music star noted that she hates blaming others as it is their collective responsibility to announce Zambia to the world. She also expressed optimism that so many things may become better if the government gets involved in the industry.
Shadaya described her encounters with some Nigerian artistes like Patoranking, Yemi Alade, Wizkid, Jidenna, Waje as inspiring as she eventually worked with Waje to produce ‘Runtown’.
Her ‘Runtown’ with Waje obviously gave her a little recognition in the Nigerian music space which she presently desires to break into anytime soon.
“It will be a dream for me to tap into Nigeria’s population and work with the likes of Burna Boy, Wizkid, Ayra Star, Tems, and the likes. Burna Boy and Tiwa Savage are my models in the African music scene” Shadaya enthused.
Shadaya who also took the time to advise African women aspiring to make it in the music industry to maintain full grip on their determination to succeed no matter how tough the race becomes, announced that although her career seems to be on hold for now as a result of motherhood duties, she will be making a huge comeback to the industry in June/July 2023 and according to her “my return will definitely shake the world”.