Zuhura Othman Soud better known by her stage name Zuchu, born (November 22, 1984) is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter born in Zanzibar. She is based in Dar es Salaam and signed to WCB Wasafi record label.[2] She was awarded the Silver Plaque Button by YouTube for hitting 100,000 subscribers within a week.[3] She became the first East African female artist to reach that milestone within a week. She also became the first East African female artist to reach 1 million subscribers on YouTube 11 months later.[4][5] In 2020, Zuchu was named by AFRIMMA as the Emerging Artist Award winner.[6]
Quick Facts Birth name, Also known as ...
Zuchu |
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| Birth name | Zuhura Othman Soud [1] |
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| Also known as | Zuchu |
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| Born | Zanzibar, Tanzania |
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| Genres | Bongo flava, Baibuda |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, dancer |
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| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
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| Years active | 2020–present |
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| Labels | WCB Wasafi |
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In 2023 Zuchu bagged 5 nominations at the Soundcity MVP Awards and also performed at the prestigious award show.[7]
In April 2023 Zuchu made history as she won 5 awards at the Tanzania Music Awards.[8][9]
In June 2023, Zuchu through her label (WCB) announced that the singer had surpassed 500 million views on Youtube making her the first female artist in East Africa and the fifth female artist in Africa to achieve this milestone.[10]
Zuchu comes from a musical Swahili Zanzibari family and background. She is the daughter of the Zanzibari Taarab musician Khadija Kopa.[11][12] Zuchu's Father, Othman Soud used to be a songwriter for Khadija Kopa and TOT Band when it was at its peak but later on switched to become a police officer.
Through her mother Khadija Kopa, Zuchu was able to meet Diamond Platnumz and get an audition. After meeting Diamond, Zuchu performed two songs as a tryout. Her emotional performance of the song Wana, later used as her debut song, impressed Diamond Platnumz, who accepted her to join the Wasafi Family in 2016.[13]
Zuchu in various occasions has confirmed dating the WCB Wasafi, Diamond Platnumz.[14] [15][16]
Zuchu started singing at a tender age and later collaborated with her mother Khadija Kopa on a song titled "Mauzauza" from her debut EP I am Zuchu. Among her first appearances as a musician to the public date back to 2015 in the first edition of TECNO OWN THE STAGE in Lagos, Nigeria[17] which she auditioned together with Tanzanian singer, Nandy.
In 2022, Zuchu became the most subscribed female artist on Sub Saharan Africa on Youtube[18] and few months later she became the first female artist in East Africa to clock 100 Million streams on Boomplay.[19]
In 2022, Zuchu became the first female artist in East Africa to earn a nomination at the MTV EMAs.[20]
Zuchu started 2023 with a new single titled Utaniua, Utaniua was critically acclaimed as Tanzania's music journalist, Charles Maganga appreciated Utaniua as an intimate song where Zuchu pays homage to Bongo Flava and Baibuda [21]
In March 2023, Zuchu released her first official music video for the year 2023 for a new single titled Napambana.[22]
In 2023, Zuchu's 2021 hit titled Sukari was positioned at number 8 by Notjustok on their list of the best Tanzanian songs of the decade ranging from 2012-2022[23]
