Monika Amunyela
Award-winning singer and songwriter TopCheri has added yet another milestone to her career after winning ‘Best Star Artist Southern Africa of the Year’ at the Shining Star Africa Awards that took place in Kigali, Rwanda, on Saturday.
The award ceremony was an exciting affair for the performer, who also took to the stage to deliver a performance that incorporated both her old tracks and newer music from her latest album, ‘I am Monika’.
This allowed the audience, who received her warmly, to experience all eras of her music.
Speaking ahead of the event in Kigali, TopCheri expressed excitement about connecting with fans beyond Namibia.
“Music has always been a universal language, and being able to connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds is one of the most rewarding parts of being an artist. I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to share my sound and energy with the people of Rwanda,” she said.
She shared her excitement about experiencing a new city and, most importantly, connecting with fellow creatives, as moments like these remind her of the love she carries for performing and why she pursued it in the first place.
“I’m really excited to experience the energy of the crowd and the culture of Kigali. Every place has its own vibe… seeing how they respond to the music, and just being part of such a special event,” she said.
TopCheri, who previously spoke about stepping away from music, clarified that she has not retired from music entirely, but will focus less on releasing full-length albums and more on singles.
She said she will still remain TopCheri whatwhat.
The star noted that she is humbled by the opportunity to perform on an international stage.
She said winning the award is meaningful at this stage of her career.
“It means a lot to know that the work I’ve done over the years is still being recognised and appreciated. I’m grateful to the fans, the industry and everyone who has supported my journey,” TopCheri remarked.