Ghanaian dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has described controversy as a deliberate part of his strategy in the music industry.
Speaking in an interview with GHOne TV’s Serwaa Amihere, Shatta Wale said the 2002 film The Count of Monte Cristo inspired his approach to making a comeback after his earlier career as Bandana.
According to him, the movie taught him the importance of making a comeback and rebuilding oneself after setbacks.
“Being controversial is part of the strategy,” he said, explaining his approach to his career and public image.
Shatta Wale also expressed admiration for a number of young Ghanaian artistes, including Medikal, Black Sherif, Lasmid and King Paluta.
However, he claimed that Medikal was the only one among them who consistently followed his directions.
“Nobody’s direction works in the music industry apart from mine,” he said.
ShattaFest and Party in the Park
The artiste also addressed the circumstances surrounding ShattaFest, which was held in partnership with Party in the Park.
He insisted that ShattaFest was his own show and said he and his team had raised concerns about the event being promoted primarily under the Party in the Park brand rather than as ShattaFest.
Shatta Wale further claimed that he anticipated that something could go wrong but that the organisers did not heed his concerns.
He said none of the organisers had contacted him since the incident.
On fraud and the seized Lamborghini
Shatta Wale also spoke about fraud and armed robbery, saying he did not support criminal activities despite acknowledging the economic difficulties facing some young people.
He said he did not like fraud and argued that weaknesses in the system contribute to some young people turning to illegal activities.
“I won’t motivate anyone to do fraud; the Bible speaks against it,” he said.
He added that music had provided him with opportunities that fraud could not offer.
Shatta Wale also claimed that the level of armed robbery could increase in 2027 because of economic hardship, although he did not provide evidence to support the prediction.
On the Lamborghini Urus that was seized by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Shatta Wale claimed that he bought the vehicle from the street for $150,000.
He maintained that nobody had ever linked him to fraudulent activity.
WAYA app and Shaxi
The artiste disclosed that he had been developing the WAYA app for about six months, describing it as a platform intended to make communication easier.
He claimed that more than 35,000 people had already subscribed to the app.
Shatta Wale also spoke about Shaxi, a ride-hailing platform associated with him, saying it was created to provide drivers with an opportunity to earn income through a less stressful system.
He further announced plans to host a comedy show in the near future.
Personal transformation
Reflecting on his lifestyle, Shatta Wale disclosed that he used to smoke marijuana heavily but said he no longer does so.
He also sought to distinguish his flamboyant appearance from criminality, saying his fashion style should not be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing.
“I dress like a fraud boy but I am not a fraud boy; I am a big man,” he said.
Shatta Wale said he was not making music solely for money, family or survival, but viewed his musical career as part of his service to God.
He also criticised some media organisations, alleging that they had influenced the public negatively against him.
The artiste’s comments form part of his broader reflections on his career, business ventures, controversies and changing role within Ghana’s entertainment industry.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
