How Shimza Invests in His Community
South Africa’s vinyl assassin, Shimza, has been making big waves in the Afrotech scene. As one of South Africa’s brightest stars, his creative genius extends far beyond his music. In addition to using his music to bring people together for the common good, Shimza has devoted his professional life to helping his community as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Beginning his journey into music as a teenager in his hometown, Tembisa, Shimza is a pioneer of the Afrotech scene. While exporting the sounds of South Africa to the global stage, he's remained passionate about empowering people through projects like his restaurant, The Hang Awt, and his well-known One Man Show. Shimza has always been clear that his mission as a brand and an artist is about the legacy it will leave.
The Hang Awt
The Hang Awt
Shimza’s restaurant, The Hang Awt has grown to be the place to be in Tembisa. It is the perfect balance between a Shisanyama (street barbeque) in the hood and a very upmarket restaurant in town. The restaurant specialises in serving tasty meals with an African twist that are enjoyed with friends while listening to some funky music and sipping on refreshing drinks. Shimza sets an example for his people by investing in the community through his restaurant. Not only is he boosting the township's economy, but he is also creating employment and empowering those who work there.
One Man Show
In an effort to aid causes close to Shimza's heart, the well-known One Man Show campaign was launched in 2009. Shimza started this annual project after the realisation that some children have no family to spend Christmas with. Each year, the DJ hosts a Christmas lunch bringing together children from various places around Gauteng, a province in South Africa. After, they throw the iconic festival with some of South Africa’s greatest artists which has seen exponential growth over the years. All the proceeds from the event go towards buying school uniforms and essentials for children in need.
Shimza’s One Man Show in Paris
On Air Entertainment
Shimza’s vision for the festival was to grow the brand for the show beyond South Africa. The DJ’s ambitious goal came to be when he cracked the international market, playing in Paris and Portugal in 2019. During the lockdown in 2020, Shimza produced the first-of-its-kind One Man Show live performance on Robben Island in commemoration of Mandela Day. Shimza and the Siya Kolisi Foundation partnered to raise funds for those negatively affected by Covid-19 as well as Robben Island.
With the restrictions and difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shimza found an innovative way to celebrate one of South Africa’s greatest heroes by educating the youth about the location's vital history through the medium of music.
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