Birth name: The artist was born Hans Sheehama at Onakayale village near Ombalantu in the Omusati region.
Early activism: At just 12 years old, in 1979, he joined Swapo in exile in Angola.
Education: Sheehama studied in Nigeria, where he recorded his first demo tape using his student allowance.
Musical roots: He joined the Ndilimani Swapo Cultural Troupe, performing with his guitar before branching into a solo career, saying he wanted to “set himself free.”
Popular songs: ‘Cassinga’, ‘Push n Pull’, ‘Nekwa lyatsima’, ‘Woman’, ‘Inotila’, ‘City Young Girl’, ‘Rasta’.
International stages: He performed in Germany, the United Kingdom, Cuba, Portugal, and Switzerland.
Shared platforms: Sheehama shared stages with artists such as the Lucky Dube Band, Don Carlos, and Manu Di Bango.
Family: He is survived by his wife, Saskia Sheehama, and their children.
Sheehama described himself as a “rebel rasta”, saying he was influenced by Rastafarian teachings, but did not practise the religion.
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