Ghanaian dancehall icon, Charles Nii Armah-Mensah famously known as Shatta Wale has said that no Ghanaian artiste, including himself, can be compared to the current status of Nigerian artistes like Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid.
Wale made the comments in an interview with Takoradi-based Empire FM, saying that Nigerian artists are more successful because they receive more support from their kinsmen.
“That is why the Nigerian artistes are moving faster than us… Davido came to Ghana and drove straight to my house, Burna Boy came to Ghana and I stayed with him for one and a half years. Don’t they see that? This is a guy that could have taken up first before these boys go? Now see where Burna boy, Davido and Wizkid are, we can compare no single artiste including me to them, just because we don’t want the growth of our artistes.”
Wale also criticized entertainment programs for frequently portraying his brand in a negative light. “Yet I consistently leverage these opportunities to transform negativity into positivity for my personal gain,” he said.
The artiste was recently criticized by entertainment pundit Ola Michael as not deserving of a diplomatic passport, as earlier suggested by former French ambassador to Ghana Anne Sophie.
Wale responded by questioning why Michael did not single out other artists who have been in the news for negative reasons, such as Stonebwoy displaying a gun on stage or Sarkodie being linked to an abortion case.
“I don’t impulsively resort to insulting or targeting specific individuals on social media,” he said. “My wisdom and extensive knowledge prevent me from engaging in such behavior. However, there are certain media figures that, in my opinion, warrant such responses.”
Wale also said that he hoped media personalities would lend their support to the cause of Ghanaian artists receiving diplomatic passports, rather than undermining specific artistes in their discussions.
“Such negative attitudes might not be taken seriously by politicians, hampering our overall efforts,” he said.
Wale’s comments have sparked a debate about the state of the Ghanaian music industry and the support that artists receive. Some people agree with Wale that the industry is holding back artists, while others believe that he is being too critical.
It remains to be seen whether Wale’s comments will lead to any changes in the way that Ghanaian artists are supported.
However, his comments have certainly raised awareness of the issue and started a conversation about how to improve the industry.
