Christina Shusho has been an all-time outstanding gospel artist, known for her signature authentic Christian music, beginning from her early days’ Unikumbuke, down to recent tracks like Shusha Nyavu. She is among the pioneering gospel solo artists in Tanzania, and is still making waves in music.
Shusho’s popularity goes beyond Tanzania to the whole of East Africa and the world at large. Her music is motivated by her life experiences and God’s sustenance throughout. In addition to Christina’s exemplary skill, the relevance of her music to current trends and situations has enabled both the young and the old to sing along.
Bio
Christina Shusho describes herself as a village girl who has only made it through God’s sustenance. It’s hard to believe she was a village girl, right? Christina was born in Kigoma. Though it was not easy for girls to get an education then, she attended her primary and secondary education in Kigoma. She later joined a college and pursued a course in Information Technology.
Shusho was married early at 19 to John Shusho. The couple has three children: Odesia Shusho, Hope Shusho, and George Shusho. However, Shusho and her husband are currently estranged. The reason behind the separation was not disagreement per se but different goal and assignments between the couple.
Shusho’s career is not limited to the music industry. She is the CEO of Relax, a company that deals with fashion and clothing, and a founder of Dreamers Centre Fellowship. She hosts Hekima za Bitina, advising various viewers on life matters.
Musical Profile
Christina Shusho had a unique and exciting musical journey. Would you believe that she did not come from a musical background? Nobody from her family engaged in music at all! So, how did the idea of doing music come up?
Shusho was raised in a strict religious background. Her parents were faithful Christians, meaning even the children had to attend church. In church, Shusho would take part in Sunday school activities such as singing, which laid a foundation for her music career.
In addition, Christina Shusho was married at a young age, at which point she was dependent on her husband for providence. Her passion for giving in church inspured Shusho to start a small business selling nuts to schoolchildren. Later on, she began selling Kanga, a printed cotton material mostly used by women. When Shusho got an idea, she was not afraid to try it.
Similarly, she got the idea to be a singer and was ready to try it out. If it failed, she would say she was trying it out. While in church, she would write down all the lessons she learned from the various preachers. They formed the basis of her songs.
Debut, Going Viral, and Discography
Christina Shusho released her first album in 2005—the first step of a thrilling journey. While recording for the first time was exciting, the album did not gain much traction.
Two years later, she recorded her second album with popular songs like Unikumbuke, Wakuabudiwa, and Mtetezi. This album garnered widespread attention and made Shusho more famous than she expected.
She continued releasing albums after going viral: Nipe Macho in 2013, Ongoza Hatua Zangu in 2015, Akutendee Nini in 2017, Shusha Nyavu in 2020, Relax in 2020, Hararat in 2023 and Zakayo in 2024.
Collabos and Concerts
Christina Shusho has collaborated with skilled musicians, singing in Swahili and other languages. She believes that working together spurs growth in individual artists.
Among her famous collaborations is Tenda Wema, where she worked with Ringtone. The song urges listeners to do good without expecting anything in return since God is watching and will reward them.
In the song Divai, meaning wine, Shusho collaborated with Mercy Masika, a prominent Kenyan artist. She has also worked with Janet Otieno, a skilled Kenyan musician, on the song Napokea Kwako, which translates to “I receive from you.” Her audience was stunned when she released the Kikuyu song Tuine Ruimbo, where she collaborated with Sammy Irungu, a Kikuyu gospel artist. She worked hard to learn an entirely new language.
Shusho has held various concerts in her country and Kenya. The most interesting one was during the New Year transition to 2024 in Kenya, due to increased demand from her fans, who requested a concert on December 31st, 2023, Shusho delivered.
Awards
Given her skill and excellence in music, Shusho has won awards for her exemplary work. In 2012, she won the Best Tanzanian Artist award at the Groove Awards.
In 2013, she won the Best East African Gospel Artist award at the Africa Gospel Music Awards. In 2016 and 2017, Shusho won the Best Gospel Artist award at the Tanzania Music Awards. She also received the Best Female Gospel Artist award in 2018 at the NAMA Awards.
Conclusion
Christina Shusho continues to encourage people not only with her songs but also with her life experiences. Her life of trying and not giving up has urged others to keep on pursuing their dreams. In addition, her songs bring hope and encouragement, reminding her listeners that God will always come through for them.
Thank you for reading. Check out more artists on Unleash Mag here.