African Beats & Pieces: AWA Khiwe

AWA Khiwe is the moniker of female MC and vocalist Awakhiwe Sibanda. She grew up in Makokoba, one of the oldest townships in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe listening to hip hop and kwaito by artists such as Brown Dash, Bongo Maffin and Thrompies. Her Ndebele costumes are a reference to other strong women of the Ndebele culture she admires. AWA are the first three letters of her prename Awakhiwe but they also stand for »African Women Arise«. AWA Khiwe’s songs tell her own story of growing up in the poor neighborhood of Makokoba, touching upon urgent topics like domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, prostitution and rape: »I feel that, as one of the few women in hip hop I should speak out for women. I could be the voice of many women,« she says. In 2019, AWA Khiwe will release her debut album on Outhere Records. It is produced by Ghanaian Stallion and features musicians from bands such as Mokoomba and Pat Thomas.