Thirteen may be unlucky for some, but Durban-born singer-songwriter Shekhinah is hoping it bodes well for her and she becomes the continent's first female solo artist to hold up the Best African Act trophy at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) Sunday.
In the 13th year of the African category at the biggest global music event of the year, the diminutive Durban artist is up against Nigerian superstar Davido, local gqom duo Distruction Boyz, Fally Ipupa from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nyashinski from Kenya and another female artist, Tiwa Savage.
Given the lowdown on the lack of female winners on Friday before flying to Europe, the pop songstress, whose full name is Shekhinah Thandi Donnell, said she's "not surprised".
"I feel like Africa is still a male-dominated continent. so it makes sense to me that in the African category it is male artists that are winning all the time.
"It is disappointing, but I do like a challenge. I think we should aim to produce music as big as artists like Davido, who has put out dope stuff for so many years," said Shekhinah.
This is already proving to be a milestone year for the 24-year-old - she scooped three gongs, including Album of the Year, for her debut album, Rose Gold, at the SA Music Awards.
But behind her success, dark clouds have often loomed large. Shekhinah was abandoned two weeks after being born at Durban's Addington Hospital, with no clues about her biological parents or why they left her.
She was adopted by a white family, and her father, Phil Donnell, was especially supportive of her musical dreams.
"What being adopted has done for me is it has helped me be more appreciative of life, more grateful. So, I find everything to be a gift. Being adopted gave me a second chance and that has given me the opportunity to become the person I am supposed to be."
Shekhinah first tasted the fruits of her hard work when she entered reality TV music contest Idols in 2011, but didn't make it past the top 32. She entered again the next year, making the top six.
Rather than licking her wounds after being voted out, she deciding to hone her craft by enrolling at performing arts college Afda, where she found herself singled out in one lecture as a lesson on the pitfalls of fame.
Between classes, she made the trek to the recording studio, often catching two minibus taxis to get there.
Shekhinah reconnected with another Idols contestant, Kyle Deutsch, and enigmatic record producer Sketchy Bongo, and they released the breakthrough hit Back to the Beach in 2015.
Rose Gold was released by Sony in October last year, and on the back of hits including Suited and Please Mr, was certified platinum 10 months later.
Asked if she has a lucky charm to break the 13-year EMA curse, she brightens, mentioning a special bottle of perfume given to her by her adoptive grandmother.
"It's broken on the top and I have to bang it on the table [to open it]. I should definitely take it with me to Spain," she said.
The awards are being held in the Spanish city of Bilbao with a star-studded lineup including Nicki Minaj, Global Icon award recipient Janet Jackson and superstar producer David Guetta.
Since the Best African Act award's introduction in 2005, only three female African artists have been nominated - SA's Zamajobe in the first year, Yemi Alade from Nigeria 10 years later and the controversial gqom performer, South African Babes Wodumo, last year.
• The 2018 MTV EMAs will be broadcast live Sunday at 9pm on MTV (DStv channel 130)..