Will Shatta Wale ever grace the stage of Ghana Music Awards for a performance? Elvisson Kofi Komfanko ask.
The Ghana Music Awards Festival is here once again to celebrate outstanding contributions of artist and industry players over the year under review. 25th edition of the Ghana Music Awards Festival was launched on March 28, 2024 at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre. During the launch, the nominees for this year’s awards were announced. Apart from that, there was also the announcement of a new headline sponsor for the awards. Telecel, formerly Vodafone. Now Telecel Ghana Music Awards. #TVGMAs
The Ghana Music Awards Festival has arguably grown to become the biggest and most prestigious event on the Ghanaian entertainment scene. Since its inception in 2000 the awards scheme has become the pivot on which the music industry
spins.The objective has been simple; to identify, recognise, and reward outstanding achievements in the music industry.
All this happened on Thursday, 28th March, 2024, and once again without Shatta Wale, who’s arguably and without a doubt the biggest artist with the largest musical followers in the Ghanaian music scene. It appears to be that Shatta Wale and Charterhouse organizers of the award scheme’s long-standing feud are not ending anytime soon.
Relationship between Shatta Wale and Ghana Music Awards (GMA)
Shatta wale is the only ” A” list artist and the top biggest artist in Ghana who hasn’t performed at Ghana’s prestigious and biggest awards, Ghana Music Awards ceremony main awards stage.
He was officially contacted to perform on the main awards ceremony in 2014, and he charged the organizer’s 70,000gh as performance fee the highest fee a Ghanaian artist has ever charged. However the organizer’s couldn’t pay.
In 2019, he was officially booked to perform at the main awards ceremony for their 20th anniversary. Unfortunately, he couldn’t perform due to an accident that happened between him and his musical rival, and Junior colleague in the industry, Stonebwoy, who brandished a gun live on stage when the later was receiving his “undeserved Award” in a way of attacking Shatta Wale and made patrons run for their lives. The program came to a close.
However, Shatta Wale has made 2 appearances in the Ghana Music Awards pre awards concerts. That is, Nominees jam and experience concert respectively.
In May 2013, he performed at the Awards Nominees Jam at Koforidua Jackson Park, a program i personally jumped wall from school just to see him for the first time and also witness the event. In May 2019, he performed at the Awards Experience concert at the independence Square as part of the commencement and celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the awards scheme since it’s inception.
In Shatta Wale’s 20yrs musical journey, that’s from 2004 to 2024, from Bandan to Shatta Wale. He has only participated in the awards scheme four times, 2004, 2013, 2014, and 2019, respectively.
After 2004, he went into hideout and stayed away from all musical related activities. He returned in 2012 and joined the scheme with his smash hit “SHATTA CITY”, competed with Kaaki in 2013 awards ceremony for Raggae Dancehall song of the year category and lost it to her. Joined the scheme the subsequent year, 2014, with “DANCEHALL KING” and won the said category, artist of the year and Song of the year.
In 2015, he boycotted the awards scheme and ceremony, partnered his colleague Sarkodie who had also boycotted the ceremony due to performance fee, and staged together a concert called Beach Party at Shatta Beach.
From 2015 to 2018, he was sidelined from participating in the awards scheme. He returned 2019 to the awards scheme after he met with the CEO and organiser of the awards for his inclusion and participation of the 20th Anniversary ceremony.
He was officially banned from participating in the scheme in 2019 for 1 year. After the ban was lifted, he vowed never to join the scheme again by cutting his palm with a blade to signify his true commitment to his own words. 5 years after that incantation, he’s still not part of the scheme.
It is important to note that after shatta Wale’s comeback in 2012, that’s 12 years today, he has not participated in 9 of the 12 years ceremony been held.(2015-2018), (2020-2024). He has about 6 awards from the scheme.
Surprisingly, and aside from Ghana Music Awards, he’s the most awarded Raggae Dancehall artist in Ghana and Africa with about 90+ awards, the 2nd most awarded artist in Ghana after Sarkodie, 4th most awarded artist in the entire continent of Africa. After Wizkid, Angelique Kudjo, and Sarkodie.
Indeed, Ghana Music Awards is less of a huge influence on the brand Shatta Wale relating to Awards won by the Musician according to data.
#VGMA #ShattaWale #Awards
WRITER : ELVISSON KOFI KOMFANKO
EMAIL: kofisikapa93@gmail.com
+233 548845902
