# Sheebah Karungi

Sheebah Karungi (born 11 November 1989), professionally known as Queen Karma and Sheebah, is a Ugandan musician, dancer, actress and feminist activist. 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.

## Early life and career

Sheebah Karungi was born and raised by a single mother Edith Kabazungu in Kawempe, a division of Kampala district, the capital city of Uganda. 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. 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. At Obsessions she developed an interest in music, recording two songs before she left the group for a solo career in music.
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".
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.
Her second project was titled Nkwatako.
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.
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.

## 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. She stated that he had acted inappropriately in front of her team before she stepped on stage during one of her performances.

## Personal life

She stated that she does not intend to marry but that she might have children. Sheebah revealed her pregnancy while performing at her Neyanziza concert on October 4, 2024 at Lugogo Cricket Oval, Kampala. She gave birth to a healthy boy child Amir on November 24, 2024in Canada.

## 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

## Collaborations

* follow me ft Harmonize (musician)
* Silwana ft Carol nantongo
* Osobola ft Leila Kayondo
* nkulowozaako ft Alvin kizz
* Leeta ft Ruth Ngendo
* Tevunya ft. Fik Fameica
* Weekend ft Runtown
* Sweet Sensation ft. Orezi

## Discography
### Studio albums

* Ice Cream - EP
* Nkwatako (2016)
* Karma (2017)
* Samali (2021)

## 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 |
| | The Uganda Music Awards | Female Artist of The Year | Herself | Won |
| 2018 | Abryanz styles and fashion awards | Fashionable music video of The Year | Herself/Mumy Yo | Nominated |
| 2017 | Zzina Awards | Artist of The Year | Herself | Won |
| 2017 | Zzina Awards | Female Artist of The Year | Herself | Won |
| 2017 | Zzina Awards | Best Collaboration of The Year | Sheebah & Ykee Benda | Won |
| 2017 | Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards | Fashionable Music Video of the Year (Uganda) | "The Way" | Nominated |
| 2016 | Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards | Most Stylish Female Artiste (Uganda) | | Nominated |
| 2016 | 2016 Nigeria Entertainment Awards | Best African Female Artist | Herself | Nominated |
| 2016 | Zzina Awards | Best Female Artist | Herself | Won |
| 2016 | 4th HiPipo Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Herself | Won |
| 2016 | 4th HiPipo Music Awards | Best Artist | Herself | Nominated |
| 2016 | 4th HiPipo Music Awards | Best Afropop Song | "Nipe Yote" | Nominated |
| 2016 | 4th HiPipo Music Awards | Best Afropop Song | "Otubatisa" | Nominated |
| 2016 | 4th HiPipo Music Awards | East Africa Best Video | "Siri Zari" | Nominated |
| 2016 | 4th HiPipo Music Awards | Video of The Year | "Siri Zari" | Won |
| 2016 | Uganda Entertainment Awards 2016 | Best Female Artist | Herself | Won |
| 2016 | Uganda Entertainment Awards 2016 | Artist of the Year | Herself | Nominated |
| 2016 | Uganda Entertainment Awards 2016 | Best Dance/Live Performance | Herself | Nominated |
| 2016 | Uganda Entertainment Awards 2016 | Best Dancehall Artist | Herself | Nominated |
| 2016 | Uganda Entertainment Awards 2016 | Video of the Year | "Nkwatako" | Nominated |
| 2015 | 3rd HiPipo Music Awards | Best Female Artist | Herself | Won |
| 2015 | 3rd HiPipo Music Awards | Artist of the Year | Herself | Nominated |
| 2015 | 3rd HiPipo Music Awards | Best Duo Group Artist | Herself with Pallaso | Nominated |
| 2015 | 3rd HiPipo Music Awards | Song of the Year | "Twesana" | Nominated |
| 2015 | 3rd HiPipo Music Awards | Best Ragga Dancehall Song | "Mundongo" with Pallaso | Nominated |
| 2015 | 3rd HiPipo Music Awards | Best Afrobeat Song | "Twesana" | Nominated |
| 2015 | 3rd HiPipo Music Awards | Best Afropop Song | "Go Down Low" with Pallaso | Won |
| 2015 | Uganda Entertainment Awards 2015 | Best Female Artist | Herself | Won |
| 2015 | Uganda Entertainment Awards 2015 | Best Dancehall Artist | Herself | Nominated |

## Associated acts

* Ykee Benda
* Fik Fameica
* Roden Y Kabako
* Chance Nalubega
* Runtown
* Solidstar
* Carol Nantongo
* Meddy
* Alvin Kizz
* The Ben
* John Blaq
* Grenade Official
* Irene Ntale
* Selector Jeff
* Orezi
* Ahdi weezy ke