Sarah Kaisi, popularly known as Shaa, is a talented Tanzanian music artist in every sense of the word.
One of Shaa's fans has described the vibrant music star as extra gorgeous and very gifted.
"I'm dazzled by Shaa's beauty and am always amazed by the way she dances," she says.
Born on January 1, 1970, the daring scorpion was last year nominated for the MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) in the Best New Act for her sensational hit 'Zamu Yangu'.
Shaa, who hails from Tukuyu in Mbeya Region, was picked alongside compatriot Ambwene Yessaya aka AY, whose single 'Leo' earned him nomination for the Best Hip Hop award.
Her opponents for the coveted MAMA award were M.I. from Nigeria, Sarah Mwangi aka STL from Kenya, Rhythmic Elements from South Africa and another Nigerian Bigiano.
"I felt quite honoured to be in the same category with great artistes like STL who have achieved great recognition worldwide," she says.
Nicknamed Shaa by fellow musician Mangwair, who featured in her debut single 'Muache Nyumbani', the young songster started music by singing for the Azania Front Lutheran Church choir when she was a kid.
“I loved music since I was a child and sang for the church choir for about five years,” she says.
But her breakthrough came in 2004 during the Coca Cola Pop Star audition where the youthful group, Wakilisha, was born.
The group made of other two artistes, Witness Kaijage (Wicked Witness) and Langa (Langa Kileo) went on to become a heartthrob for the whole of 2004 with their hit 'Hoi'.
The song and the group became a household name in the city as they toured and thrilled the country with their energetic stage performances -- Witness representing the Hip Hop side, Langa on the Afro fusion and Shaa blending in with R 'n' B melodies.
But as many youthful groups in the country, they soon parted with their manager Daniel Kiondo after believing rumours that he was making a lot of money out of them.
This turned out to be wrong and it was a decision they would rue forever as a group.
As Shaa admits: "This was not true, actually it turned out that he was putting in money to keep the group going but we found out too little, too late!"
It was one wrong step into the wrong direction which was to cost a fortune, as they had to hit the road in search for a new manager.
Their search, however, proved elusive as they drew blanks on many occasions and they never found one.
When school came calling for Shaa, it was the turning point for the group -- they all went separate
ways. Even with the promise of getting back together as soon as possible, this was never to be.
"When I came back from the US in 2007, where I had gone to study art and design, I found out that Langa and Witness had chosen to go separate ways," she says with a tinge of nostalgia. However, this was to mark her departure into a solo career.
She quickly sought for a reputable record label that would propel her to some height and that search landed her at MJ records where she signed her current deal.
Now Shaa has made a name for herself as a solo artist.
Off her first project, she has already released a10-track album titled 'Zamu Yangu'. Some of the songs in the album are 'Pambazuko', 'Zamu Yangu', 'Muache Nyumbani' and 'Babaishi'.
Some of the artist collaborations in the album produced by Marco Chali, Said Comorien and Bizzman are AY, Maunda Zorro, Langa and big brother Ras Gwandumi.
Shaa is the last born of four children of the late Professor Malise Kaisi and says her family influenced her to venture into music.
“My father was a member of a church choir and my elder brother Ras Gwandumi is also a musician – he has a degree in music,” she says.
Shaa admires local music diva Stara Thomas and American rapper Busta Rhymes.
Despite the acclaim and success she has already achieved, Shaa has some regrets, too.
"I just feel like I started a bit late, something that makes me see myself like three years behind others," she says.