AWA
AWA is the stage name of Zimbabwean Zim Hip Hop artist, the rapper Awakhiwe Sibanda. AWA is one of the most popular female Hip Hip artists in Zimbabwe. She's won awards in the Zim Hip Hop Awards. AWA is based in Makokoba, Bulawayo. AWA's stage name stands for Africa Women Arise. AWA has performed at Shoko Festival. She grew up in a number of townships in Bulawayo namely Nguboyenja, Makokoba and Pelandaba. AWA says growing up, she lived in a house where violence was the answer to everything. She however says her family is really religious and associate Hip Hop with drugs and social deviance. Awa Khiwe is currently studying social work at the University of South Africa. AWA started in music at a home studio in Makokoba called Makokoba Township Records (MTR). Most of AWA's songs are in Ndebele, with a few lyrics in English. In 2015, AWA had a documentary done by Vice Media's Noisey who interviewed and followed her through her first performance at Shoko Festival. In September 2016 she was featured in a BBC article. During the period, she performed in the UK as part of Voices of the Revolution, a collective of 15 female musicians from 10 countries including Egypt, Brazil and Venezuela.
ZimHipHop
