Sampa the Great in conversation with Billboard’s Tatiana Cirisano | The Music Imbizo 2020

Born in Zambia, raised in Botswana and having developed her music career in Australia, Sampa the Great (Sampa Tembo) brings together hip-hop, poetry, soul and African musical influences. Her work explores identity, belonging and the experience of finding your voice across different places and cultures. For The Music Imbizo’s online 2020 edition, themed “African Unity – The Real Currency,” we brought Sampa together with **Tatiana Cirisano, then a journalist at Billboard, for a conversation about the person behind the music. From her earliest musical influences and love of songwriting to finding the confidence to pursue music professionally, Sampa reflects on the experiences that shaped her growth as an artist. Her journey brings a personal dimension to the theme: how do we carry our roots with us, build connections across borders and make space for African voices on our own terms? Watch this conversation from The Music Imbizo archives—a story of music, movement and becoming. #TheMusicImbizo #SampaTheGreat #AfricanUnity #MusicBusiness