Tanzanian Afropop and Bongo Flava artist Zuchu, real name Zuhura Othman Soud, has become the Spotify new EQUAL Africa music programme ambassador for the month of May.

Spotify says the programme seeks to strengthen gender equality in the music industry by showcasing talented African women making waves and provide a platform to fete them.

Zuchu, who was born into a musical family, is signed to Diamond Platnumz’ WCB Wasafi record label and is the daughter of legendary Taarab musician Khadija Kopa, and together they sung the "Mauzauza" hit.

Zuchu. PHOTO/COURTESY

The high rising musician bust into the music scene in 2015 through a karaoke-themed talent search competition in Lagos, Nigeria and has churned hit after hit after joining WCB label.

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Her club banger “Cheche", which features Diamond Platnumz, propelled her into the limelight in 2020 and in 2021 she released the record-breaking "Sukari" track, which has so far earned more than 2 million Spotify listens.

Diamond and Zuchu. PHOTO/COURTESY

“In addition to exposing me to the musical power that can come from the female experience, women in song have also helped me realise that we can overcome the setbacks that are part-and-parcel of working in the male-dominated world of Afrobeats,” said Zuchu.

She added, “Being part of the Equal programme is a big thing for me and it helps encourage other female musicians to persevere and shatter systematic gender restrictions in the realm of music.”

Her single track, “Mwambieni”, which was released earlier this year, is featured on both the Equal Africa and Equal Global playlists on Spotify.

Ssaru. 

"We are thrilled to have Zuchu join the Equal Programme. She is evidently one of the most talented artists from Tanzania, and this is a well-deserved accolade for her,” said Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s head of music in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Okumu added that Spotify was committed to highlighting female artists in Africa in a bid to inspire other young upcoming female artists in the music industry to aim for the sky.

Muthoni Drummer Queen. PHOTO/COURTESY

Zuchu now joins other East African music industry stars Muthoni Drummer Queen and Sylvia Ssaru in amplifying the voices of talented African women through the Equal programme.