Marsha Moyo

Marsha Moyo (died 5 November 2016) was a Zambian multi-award winning singer, songwriter, author and civil rights activist. Her music delivered a timeless collection of urban adult contemporary soul, rhythm and blues.

Music career

She entered the music industry in 2002 with her debut album Dark Child which earned her a South Africa Music Award nomination for Best African artist and two Kora All Africa Music Awards nominations for Revelation of the Year and Best Female Artist-Southern Africa.

In 2004, she released her epic song Women Celebrated for which she received another two Kora Award nominations for Best Female African Artist-Southern Africa and Best African Video.

In 2006, she released her album The Fine Print which earned her a Ngoma Award in for Best Vocal Recording followed by her 2013 album, Vested in Love.

She has further performed at the 7-star hotel Burj-al-Arab, Dubai UAE and she became Zambia’s first recording artist aired on MTV.

Authoring career

Marsha was also the author of the publication Zambia: Women Celebrated (2001, 2011 UNFPA) on the positive achievements and community contributions of several women in Zambia.

While, in 2009, she wrote Wheels of Change: Champions in the SADC Gender Agenda (UNECA, SADC) which sought to honour and recognise the SADC heroines and heroes who contributed immensely to the achievement of gender equality and equity in SADC.

Advocacy

In 2008, the United Nations appointed her to advocate the Millennium Development Goals, the UN appointment saw her become the first-ever celebrity jointly appointed by all UN agencies resident in a single country and Zambia’s first UN honorary appointee and in 2011, the Zambian Government appointed her as a lifetime Tourism Ambassador.

Community initiatives

In 2004, Moyo established The Pamodzi Foundation. It is a Zambian based community initiative endowment towards art culture, education and sport.

Main reference

• Dambisa Moyo’s younger sister, Marsha Moyo, dies, Lusaka Times, 5 November 2016