When Sampa the Great took the stage at KOKO the crowd was already hyped up and ready for the show they were about to receive. The Zambian rapper played a sold-out show as part of her As Above, So Below tour, joined by her band that consisted of all Zambian musicians she celebrated her homeland bringing high energy and a show that delivered on all aspects.

Sampa born in Zambia and raised in Botswana has cultivated a sound that has been very true to her roots and is a journey she has talent since the release of her first mixtape The Great Mixtape back in 2016 through her latest offering As Above, So Below. As a Zambian artist based in Australia where she began her career, she has always been connected to her roots through her music which is something that has served her well and made her someone worth paying attention to.

Having taken the stage at KOKO there was no mistaking the love she has for her heritage and her culture. Opening the show with Bona the high energy multi-lingual song which has her rapping in Setswana, the Botswana native language before switching to English. Throughout the show, Sampa made it clear that “we are here to celebrate our love for everything that we are. We are singing in Setswana, Bemba, and Nyanja because our music travels beyond any language”

Sampa has been gracing various stages since the release of her last album As Above, So Below including playing Glastonbury and Coachella, not to mention performances such as a 

Tiny Desk at Home session and a performance on the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon where she shared the stage with African legend Anjelique Kidjo who was featured on her testimonial anthem Let Me Be Great.

London was very much engaged and receptive to everything that Sampa had to offer on the stage. From start to finish the energy and vibes were one of celebration and pride that came from seeing her grace the stage. Also joining Sampa was Kojey Radical who appeared to sing their song IDAF. Sampa also celebrated her band and dancers who shared the stage with her and have been on the journey with her saying “you’ve made our dreams come true”.

Before going into her female empowerment anthem Black Girl Magic, Sampa spoke about writing these songs in her bedroom when she was growing up in Botswana and that this moment was one that she never could’ve imagined. However, as you saw her shining on that stage it was very apart that the stage is exactly where she is meant to be.

As Above, So Below is out now, follow Sampa the Great via @sampa_the_great

Words by Seneo Mwamba