Shekhinah Thandi Donnell, better known as Shekhinah, is a gifted singer-songwriter from South Africa, born on October 2, 1990.
She first gained fame by reaching the Top 32 in the seventh season of M-Net’s SA Idols in 2011 and later made it to the Top 6 in the eighth season in 2012.
FACTS ABOUT SHEKHINAH
- FULL NAME: Shekhinah Thandi Donnell
- DATE OF BIRTH: October 2, 1990
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- NATIONALITY: South African
- OCCUPATIONS: Singer, Songwriter
- LABELS: Sony Music
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Coming from a racially diverse family, Shekhinah has stated that she never felt like an outsider.
Her childhood was filled with harmony until she entered high school and later pursued her university studies.
In a reflective interview, Shekhinah shared, “The love I received at home was deep, genuine, and unconditional.
It fostered my love for all people. Even though I encountered disrespect for not adhering to certain cultural norms or beauty standards, I held onto the love and respect that my family instilled in me. While the initial experiences of discrimination were difficult, I quickly moved on.
By the time I reached grade 11, after participating in Idols, I found myself surrounded by new friendships.”
CAREER
From an early age, Shekhinah Singer developed a profound passion for music and loved to express this passion through her performances.
As a teenager, she took the chance to compete in the seventh season of IDOLS, finishing in thirty-second place.
Acknowledging her talent and drive, Shekhinah returned for the eighth season of the competition, where she improved her standing to sixth place.
In 2017, Shekhinah made a significant impact on the music scene with her hit single “Suited,” which soared to the top of the South African music charts and earned her a diamond plaque certification from the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA).
Building on the success of “Suited,” she released two additional singles in 2018, “Please Mr” and “Different,” with “Please Mr” achieving gold certification.
Her debut studio album, “Rose Gold,” was launched on October 6, 2017, under Sony Music Entertainment Africa.
Co-written by Shekhinah along with David Scott, DJ Maphorisa, Luke Goliath, and Mae N. Maejor, the album highlighted her skills in the pop and R&B genres.
“Rose Gold” became a best-seller, receiving multi-platinum certification in South Africa and featuring three successful singles: “Suited,” “Please Mr,” and “Different.”
Shekhinah’s accomplishments were recognized with six nominations at the 2018 South African Music Awards, where she won accolades for Newcomer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Female Artist of the Year.
On May 7, 2021, Shekhinah released her eagerly awaited second studio album, “Trouble In Paradise.”
The album included the singles “Fixate” and “Tide,” both of which helped it achieve gold certification from RiSA. “Fixate” debuted at number one on the RAMS Chart.
Looking ahead, Shekhinah announced her forthcoming third studio album in early March 2023 and revealed the lead single “Risk,” featuring Moliy, which was released on March 22, 2024.
“Risk” made a notable entry at number nine on the Local Radio Chart Top 10.
PERSONAL LIFE
Shekhinah’s biological parents made the difficult choice to leave her as a newborn, but she was fortunate to be adopted by the Donnell family.
She shares a deep connection with her adoptive family, especially her foster father, Phil Donnell, who has played a crucial role in her journey as a singer.
Phil not only provided her with physical support but also believed in her talent and offered emotional encouragement to help her pursue her career.
Their relationship has been essential to Shekhinah’s development as an artist.