Ugandan musician and dancer Sheebah Karungi is marking a significant career moment after her collaborative track with Nigerian artist Orezi, Sweet Sensation, was featured on the official pre-match playlist for Arsenal Women Football Club.
The playlist, curated by Dutch international and Arsenal midfielder Victoria Pelova, was played ahead of Arsenal’s dramatic 4–3 victory over Manchester United Women on Saturday in the Women’s Super League. It included a mix of global chart-toppers such as Rihanna, Ayra Starr, Marc Anthony, and Charly Black, underscoring the international flavour of the occasion.
Pelova, 25, plays for Arsenal and the Netherlands national team and is known for her flair both on and off the pitch. Her curated music selection spotlighted artists from different corners of the globe—including East and West Africa—offering Sweet Sensation a prominent platform before a global football audience.
The Afro dancehall track, originally released in September 2019, blends Sheebah’s distinctive Ugandan sound with Orezi’s Nigerian Afropop energy. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Sasha Vybz, the music video was shot in various locations around Muyenga, Kampala, and has amassed more than 21 million views on YouTube.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sheebah expressed her excitement, sharing the playlist with a celebratory message. The moment comes shortly after her return to Uganda following a hiatus from music, during which she welcomed her first child, a baby boy named Amir, while in Canada.
Now 35, Sheebah is widely regarded as one of Uganda’s most influential female performers. Her last major appearance was the Neyanziza concert, a sold-out event that marked the peak of her recent musical chapter. Her fans are eagerly anticipating her full return to the entertainment scene.
The inclusion of “Sweet Sensation” in a Premier League matchday playlist doesn’t just indicate a personal preference. To many, it’s symbolic of the steadily growing presence of African music on the world stage.
