Empress Shelly

Empress Shelly (real name Shalvin Kundai Chakwada) is a female Zimbabwean dancehall artist who was born on 19 November 1992. She was raised by her grandmother in Chitungwiza. Her interest in music began when she was in her teens. This prompted her to join the school choir while in primary school. In 2005, she won the best vocalist prize at a school musical event. At 17, she developed interest in dancehall music.

In 2011, she joined dancehall artist Newton "Badman" Gwanangura. In 2012, she went solo following Badman’s relocation to South Africa. In 2013, she joined Legendary Musiq Unruly and managed to record her debut song on the Blackout Riddim. Some of the songs she has so far released are: ‘Misodzi Yangu’, ‘Ngwarira’, ‘Bhuru Hadzi’, ‘Achihera’ (Song yaGogo), ‘Hondo YeMweya’, ‘Zvibingaidzo’, ‘Fresh And Clean’, ‘Mufare’ and many more. She has done collaborations with a number of Zimbabwean dancehall artists such Kilaman, Ninja Lipsy, Diana Samkange and others.