BET Award-nominated singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and musical sensation Abigail Chams is the stuff hot girls are made of with her larger-than-life talent, superstar quality, and an aesthetic as inimitable as it can get. Boasting a young yet successful career and being the voice of the generation she represents, the young Tanzanian belle not only has her sights locked onto greatness, she’s also already on track to it, and she’s the driver of the East African train with many followers aboard.
Chams talks about the genesis of the girl who would eventually become one of Africa’s recognisable faces as well as growing up exposed to music in its most organic state: the form of instruments.
“I’m a young girl from Tanzania who has always had a passion and love for music. Coming from a musical family, my grandfather was a conductor of an orchestra, and so the early introduction to music intrigued me. I started playing my first instrument, the piano, when I was only five. I moved on to the violin right after, then the guitar, the drums, and the flute. Fast forward to today, and I’m a multi-instrumentalist and a singer and a songwriter,” she says.
Abigail Chams | SUPPLIED
Starting off the year with a bang, Chams released her first single, “Your Loss”, going against the grain and the trope of Valentine’s month. A power ballad of the post-breakup phase, the song aims to reorient the vision of those still reeling from the scars of lost love, reminding them of their self-worth, the power within, and the affirmation of one’s value. She shares what the single is all about.
“With ‘Your Loss’, I decided to take the direction I took with it because there are so many people going through many things in life. And with all the love in the air since it’s Valentine’s month, there are still people out there who don’t feel the spirit of love because they are not in that state of mind. Every time I hear a breakup song, it’s always someone being devastated and upset over the lost love, but sometimes, it’s important for us to step back into our power and understand that when people are no longer in our lives, it’s their loss.
“This is a fun song. I wanted it to be an anthem for anyone going through a breakup, a reminder for those going through it to step back into their confidence and remember who they are, their value and worth. And just as the song title says, it’s your loss that I’m no longer in your life,” she says.
Check out the music video for “Your Loss” below:
Since breaking out with her debut EP, titled 5 and its lead single “Nani?” and consolidating the success with the Harmonize-assisted “Me Too”, the Chams ascent has been meteoric, with her rise culminating in a BET Award nomination for Best New International Act in 2025. With the nod, she etched her name in the history books as the first-ever East African act to secure a spot as a shortlisted artist for the prestigious American gong. The 22-year-old shares her feelings on the trajectory of her career thus far.
“The growth over the past couple of years been great and steady. My number-one goal as an artist is to put Tanzania on the map, you know? To be a global superstar from East Africa, which is something that hasn’t really happened. From the BETs to chart-topping singles, it’s been a testament that dreams do come true, that it doesn’t matter where you come from, and that it’s possible to push boundaries. So I’m grateful for where I am, and where I am going,” she says.
Chams reflects on the rarity of making a living out of something she has always loved and enjoyed doing since she was young. She also highlights the importance of having a good support system and a mind fortified with gratitude.
“The journey has been wonderful, and it’s a blessing to wake up daily and do what I want to do, since I have been into music for practically my entire life. I’ve been playing music since I was a kid. I have a wonderful team around me as well as my family backing me. Of course, there have been some challenges here and there, but then again setbacks come with the territory of every path one chooses to take. But at the end of the day, I’m happy, so thankful that even the trials I go through are things placed there to make me stronger as an artist and a person,” she says.
Abigail Chams | SUPPLIED
A scholar of music and a proud apprentice of the craft, Abigail spotlights the things she wants to be remembered for.
“I want to be remembered as someone that made timeless music. I think we’ve lost much over the years in that we have a lot of artists compared to musicians. So I want people to look back and regard me for my musicality. From changing the way things are produced to how commercial art is made, I want my art to go down in history, and to be known for my instrumentation, my violins, the strings, and the pianos all coming together in my music,” she says.
Dynamic and exemplary, Abigail embodies all the enviable jewels in the crown of youth. Even though her name is on the lips of millions, Chams is not content with being known strictly for the music. A mental health and youth activist at heart, she talks about using her platform to make meaningful contributions in both these spheres of activism, with her efforts even yielding recognition from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
“Apart from the music, I also want to be remembered for using my music platform to spread the right messages and to make a meaningful impact in my community as an advocate for the youth in Tanzania. I work a lot with organisations like UNICEF as their youth advocate here in Tanzania, and I also have a youth program that raises awareness on mental health called The Talk, and these are all things I am passionate about. So, as much as the music is important, it’s important as well for me to touch people’s lives with the platform that has been given to me,” she says.
Abigail Chams | SUPPLIED
Abigail reveals that one of the most key components to growing musically and culturing the artistry is to work hard at improving it as well as letting it breathe by taking a step back and touching grass for a while.
“I think it’s important to allow yourself to be creative without limiting yourself. I’m always writing something, composing a piece, playing something, whether I’m in studio or I’m outside. So, it’s vital to allow yourself to grow by trying out new things and being in that space whenever you can be. Ironically, it’s just as important to not suffocate yourself doing all of this to the point of not letting yourself see the world. Because a lot of the music I make is a story. It’s always something that has happened to me and something I’ve experienced and want to share with the world, and to have such material you need to live life and have fun,” she says.
Abigail promises that this year will be bigger and better than any other she has had so far.
“This year, it’s all about more of everything. More music, more touring, and much more growth. So, I’m excited for 2026 and doing everything bigger,” she says.
