Shonka Dukureh had two children, a son and a daughter.
According to reports, her children are below the age of 14. She had featured both of them once on her Instagram in June 2022 post.
However, their details are under wraps.
Shonka Dukureh was an Actress, author and playwright.
Dukureh was born in September 1977 in Charlotte, Nashville, North Carolina.
She held a bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Fisk University and a Masters degree in Education from Trevecca Nazarene University credentialing her as a “Highly Qualified” K-6 teacher.
Dukureh’s initial goal was to become a teacher but later decided to pursue a career as a performing artist.
Over the years, she successfully starred in many touring musicals and plays around the world. She garnered critical acclaim for her role in American Duet, by Marcus Hummon and won the 2003 Tennessean Theatre Award for Best Musical Direction or Performance as a Vocalist.
Shonka Dukureh played Big Mama Thornton in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic Elvis.
She also played the character in the music video for Doja Cat’s Vegas from the movie’s soundtrack.
At the time of her death, Dukureh was working on her first full-length studio album which she described as ‘a tribute to the blues music genre in celebration of those fierce unsung pioneering artists and musicians who paved the way for the rock and roll music revolution.’
Dukureh also recorded with and provided background vocals for the likes of Nick Cave, Mike Farris, Jamie Lidell and the Royal Pharaohs, among others.
The mother of two was found dead at her home in Nashville which she shared with her children on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at age 44.