After concluding her high school in Tanzania, young Maya got a scholarship to study creative writing and African studies at a university in US. While in the US she began writing poems, identifying herself as Maya the Poet. Later, Sho Madjozi returned to South Africa and undertook a fellowship at one of the country's university. There she began writing politically-themed songs and rapping with her new moniker, Sho Madjozi. She rose to fame after her collaboration with another South African rapper Okmalumkoolkat.