Biography of Shatta Wale
Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr., better known by his stage name Shatta Wale, formerly Bandana, is a Ghanaian reggae-dancehall performer who was born on October 17, 1984, to Mama Evelyn Avemegah Elsie and Charles Nii Armah Mensah Snr.
Real Name: Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr.
Stage Name: Shatta Wale, 1Don, & Dancehall King
Date of Birth: 17 October 1984
Country of Origin: Ghana
Occupation: Artist/Musician
Net Worth: $13 million – 75,790,000.00 GHS
Record Label: Shatta Movement Records & Zylofon Music
Parents: Mama Evelyn Avemegah Elsie, Charles Evelyn Avemegah Mensah Snr.
Shatta Wale has a son called Majesty with Ghanaian socialite Michelle Gbagonah Diamonds, also known as Shatta Michy who is now his Ex baby Mama and she has been installed as the queen mother of Aburi Akuapem. It is "Dancehall" that made him most famous.
Career
Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr. is a Ghanaian reggae-dancehall musician popularly known as Shatta Wale under his own record label, Shatta Movement Records (S.M.R.), and Zylofon Music. He is also the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) of Shaxi.
Early Life
The African Dancehall King, Shatta Wale, is well-known throughout the world and was born in Ghana's capital, Accra. He was born on October 17, 1984, at the Police Hospital. Elsie Evelyn Avemegah, the mother of Shatta Wale, was the wife of his father, Charles Nii Armah Mensah Snr. In Ghana's political landscape, his father made a solid name for himself as a well-known businessman and lawyer.
The Seven Great Princes Academy (S.G.P.A.), situated in the Dansoman neighborhood of Accra, is where Ghanaian reggae-dancehall artist Shatta Wale began his academic schooling. He was heavily involved in the arts during his school years, and it was at the National Theatre of Ghana (N.T.G.) that he first saw the drama series "By the Fireside."
He was given the opportunity to enroll at Winneba Secondary School (W.S.S.) after completing Junior High School (J.H.S.). After Senior High School (S.H.S.), he released his first hit track, titled “Bandana from Ghana,” which introduced him to the world of early life music under the moniker "Bandana."
At first, he was known by his nickname, "Doggy." Shatta Wale then changed his name from "Doggy" to “Bandana.” In 2004, the song created incredible waves in Ghana's Music Industry (G.M.I.).
Shatta Wale abruptly rose to the occasion during the 2013 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (V.G.M.A.), hurling lyrical insults at the organization after declaring that they had denied him the Dancehall Artist of the Year award to a female dancehall performer named "Kaakie."
Despite its offensive lyrics, the media eagerly awaited the song, which led to his success as a musician. His musical breakthrough was a result of the media's anticipation of the song, despite its offensive lyrics.
His "Dancehall King" song was his next biggest hit in 2013, and it caught everyone off guard, which helped him to host concerts that drew over a thousand (1,000) Ghanaian youths. He started earning much money from his concerts, which marked the main source of his musical income.
Shatta Wale's efforts in 2014 earned him a nomination for People's Choice Male Musician of the Year at the inaugural and coveted GN Bank Awards (G.B.A.). He won Artiste of the Year at the 2014 edition of the Ghana Music Awards (G.M.A.). He reached the 38th position on E.TV's "Top 100 Most Influential Ghanaian" Awards list in 2014. Since then, he has consistently made it to the ranking. Wale joined the Guinness Ghana Breweries and Rush Energy Drink brands as brand ambassadors in 2014.
Awards and Nominations
In 2014, Shatta Wale was nominated for the Maiden GN Bank Awards as the People’s Choice Male Musician of the Year. Ghana Music Awards, Channel O Music Video Awards, 4Syte TV Music Video Awards, Nigeria Entertainment Awards, African Muzik Magazine Awards, BASS Awards, International Reggae and World Music Awards, Jigwe Awards, Ghana DJ Awards, African Entertainment Awards, African Muzik Magazine Awards, Swish HQ UK Awards, 3G Awards, MOBO Awards, GN Bank Awards, Blogging and Social Media Awards, Golden Movie Awards Africa, Africa Europe DJ Awards (Italy), Afrimma Awards, Africa Youth Choice Awards, City People Entertainment Awards, Africa Entertainment Awards US, WatsUp African Music Video Awards, 4Syte Music Video Awards, Ghana Peace Awards, Muzato Emmerson Music Awards, Africa Youth Awards, Ghana Music Honours, Ghana Naija Showbiz Awards, EMY Africa Awards, Eastern Music Awards, People’s Celebrity Awards, Soundcity MVP Awards Festival, Ugandan Music Excellence Awards, Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
In 2015, Shatta Wale requested not to be nominated in the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (V.G.M.A.), despite the fact that his hit songs from the previous year, including "Dancehall Commando" with Sarkodie, "Party All Night" with Jah Vinci, and "Wine Your Waist" with Davido and Korle Gonno, could have won the coveted Artiste and Song of the Year award at the event for the second consecutive year because of an impending court case with the organizers of the awards, Charter House Productions Ltd. (C.H.P.L.), for allegedly making defamatory remarks against the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) in a video he uploaded on his Facebook page.
On social media, he was named the "Most Influential Musician" of 2017. On July 8, 2017, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty gave the Key to the City to Shatta Wale. Wale was introduced as the newest brand ambassador for Storm Energy Drink by Kasapreko Company Limited, a Ghanaian company that produces a number of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, in September 2017. Shatta Wale agreed to become a brand ambassador for Boss Baker Beef Roll on November 17, 2017.
In connection with the 36th International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA), Wale received an honored award for his contributions to Ghanaian reggae on March 18, 2018, at the 37th Annual Chicago Music Awards (CMA).
Feuds
In the Ghana Music Industry (G.M.I.), the dancehall king, Shatta Wale, is marked as the most controversial artist, who always has arguments and quarrels with many of his colleague musicians and bloggers in the industry. Musicians such as Samini, Yaa Pono, Stonebwoy, Kwaw Kesse, Sarkodie, and a blogger, Kwadwo Sheldon, are the people he had argued and quarreled with.
Shatta Wale claimed in 2018 that Stonebwoy had refused to unite with him. In response, Stonebwoy claimed that Shatta Wale had implied that he was to blame for his own mother's 2015 passing. In an interview, Shatta Wale refuted the accusations.
At the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards 2018 (V.G.M.A.18), when Shatta Wale and his crew took the stage to congratulate Stonebwoy for winning the Vodafone Ghana Music Award 2018 (V.G.M.A.18) for "Dancehall Artiste of the Year," the feud intensified; this led to Stonebwoy pulling out a gun on stage.
In a recent response to his argument with Sarkodie, Shatta Wale stated that Sarkodie's mother would undoubtedly implore Sarkodie to stop making music if he paid attention to him.
After proposing to the mother of his son on stage at the launch of his Reign Album in 2018, the Shatta couple as they were known seemed destine for the altar until their separation in 2019 over domestic violence issues. In confirming their split, Michelle Diamonds went on Social to say that she was tired of living with a partner who is insecure and has trust issues. "No one wants to be in abusive and draining relationship," she added in her Instagram story post in 2019.
2019–2020
His 11 wins at the 2019 3Music Awards ceremony set a new record for dancehall artists. Shatta Wale made another breakthrough in 2019 with the popular song "Already," a collaboration with American singer Beyoncé on her album "The Lion King: The Gift, which was nominated for the Grammy Awards (G.A.) ceremony.
Shatta Wale was named the Brand Ambassador of Infinix Ghana, a smartphone business, on Wednesday, September 11, 2019. He was the first person from Ghana to host the Faith Concert, a YouTube digital concert. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was planned to give Ghanaians and his worldwide audience hope.
He and Kuami Eugene, a highlife musician, were chosen by Ghana's Ministry of Communications to be the main acts at the COVID-19 app virtual launch concert on Monday, April 13, 2020. He celebrated his 36th birthday by throwing a huge birthday celebration at his East Legon home on Saturday, October 17, 2020, which was attended by family and friends.
2021 – Till Date
In 2021, the Dancehall King, Shatta Wale was nominated for two of most prominent and prestigious awards and won the "Best Virtual Entertainer of the Year" award at the International Reggae and World Music Awards (I.R.A.W.M.A.) Shatta Wale released a song in January 2024 titled “Balloon,” with an accompanying video. He was among the artists who performed at Vybz Kartel‘s Freedom Street concert in Jamaica.
Shatta Wale allegedly made up the story that he had been shot and was getting treatment in October 2021. Later, once the police declared him sought, he turned himself up. The Ghana Police Service detained him on suspicion of creating and disseminating false information to incite panic and fear.
For one week, he was placed on remand in prison custody. At today's hearing, Shatta Wale was given GH¢100,000 self-recognizance bail on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. November 9, 2021 has been set as the next date for the lawsuit.
At the request of Ghana's Police Chief, the musician stormed out of a meeting with celebrities two weeks after being released on bond, resulting in another altercation with the police.
This is a list of Shatta Wale singles: "Aroma," "Like You," Reality," "Kill Dem With Prayers," "Kakai," "Longtime," "DanceHall King (Part 2)," "Haters," "Affi di Money," "Shame on You," "Disaster," "Patoranking," "Zylofon," "True Believer," "Ego Taya Dem," "Storm," "Shito," "Performer," "Thunder Fire," "Don’t Baby My Baby," "Bend Over," "Squeeze," "I Regret," "If i See," "Give Dem Something," "Crazy," "Amount," "Wonders," "Rosalinda," "Sister, Sister," "Mama Stories," "Gringo," "My Mind is Made Up," "Caesar," "Exodus," "One Way Style," "My Level," "Run 4 yuh life," "No Look," "Weather Forecast," "I Hate Nonsense," "Borjor," "Miss Money," "Born Crey," "Fear Mi," "On God," "Shoulder," "Hunter," "2024," "Designer," "Who Say," and many more songs.
"Shatta with 9" ft. 9TYZ, "Packaging" ft. Medikal, "Bess Lyf" ft. Jupitar, "Ahodwo Las Vegas" ft. Kofi Jamar, Amerado, Ypee, Kweku Flick, King Paluta, Phrimpong & Phaize, "Party with the Stars" ft. Munga Honorable & Tifa, "Blessings" ft. Amerado, and many more are his featured songs.
"Currency Year Mixtape," "After the Storm," "African Takeover," "Reign," and "SAFA" are a list of his albums that have been released.
Videography of Shatta Wale: "Hajia Bintu" (feat. Ara B & Captan), "Crazy," "Island," "Gringo," "Bullet Proof," "Nobody Go Talk," "Life Changer," "Waitti," "Ayoo," "Taking Over," "Shatta Story," "Krom Aye Shi" "(Town Make Hot), "Too Sweet," "Story to Tell," "Too Much Chemical," "Kill Dem with Prayers," "Kakai," "Baby (Chop Kiss)," "Everybody Like My Tin," "Gather Around," and many more.
After sharing images and videos of their multiple moves together, Shatta Wale and Maali made their new romance public in 2023. Maali shared pictures and videos of her pregnancy on social media to announce the birth of their first child, a baby girl. Shatta Wale has four children, but this is his first with Maali.
In 2023, Charles and Kwadwo Sheldon of Kwadwo Sheldon Studios (KSS) went into entertainment beefing. The source of this beef was a comment made by Sheldon; "In his songs, Shatta Wale portrays himself as a gangster, yet he contacted the police following an online dispute". Sheldon said in an interview that he was reported to the IGP of Ghana, George Akuffo Dampare by Shatta Wale on charges of belittling his work.
On July 19, 2023, Kasapreko Company Limited (KCL) and Shatta Wale extended their agreement for Shatta Wale to be the spokesperson for Storm Energy Drink. During an October 2023 interview with BBC's Stefania Okereke, Shatta Wale expressed regret for not pursuing a career in law.He said,
"I'm considering becoming a lawyer in the future when I feels financially ready", despite his music career, as law was his initial aspiration
When Shatta Wale arrived at the London airport on May 3, 2024, prior to his performance at Indigo at The O2, he blatantly ignored YouTuber Kwadwo Sheldon, who had stuck out his hand to meet him because of the feuds he has with him.
Shatta Wale joined the "Buzstop Boys" in a community cleanup effort in Alajo in Accra on June 12, 2024, and gave the group a donation through his foundation to support their environmental efforts.
On September 16, 2024, Shatta Wale made an announcement that they were looking for talented people in Ghana's capital, Accra, who needed encouragement and support to realize their aspirations. "Accra Invasion Project" (AIP) is the project's name. Thus far, he has identified nine gifted young people: Papillon Blood, Shattonzy, Zicoranking, JoeQuaye, Blakid, Boy Cray, Kinjunia, Dosted Gennah, and Sanaa, the sole female.
"The “ACCRA INVASION PROJECT” (AIP), is propelled exclusively by grassroots support, unaided by government or elite backing. This self-funded endeavor seeks to inspire and equip Ghana's youth while stimulating employment within the arts industry, a neglected sector in Ghana. I encourage Ghanaian youths to transcend political affiliations and cultivate self-reliance. A key takeaway: substantial impact is achievable without substantial initial investment; collective youth empowerment can drive transformative growth."
He claims that he is not going to give up on the young people anytime soon and is working to complete all ten regions. His next talent discovery list includes the Volta Region.
In the conversation surrounding the "Occupy Julorbi House" protest, dancehall star Shatta Wale voiced his disgust of the arrest of protesters on September 21 as they marched towards Jubilee House. Many of his admirers, including some who urged that he write a song in honor of President Akufo-Addo, supported his condemnation of the arrests.
Shatta Wale was invited by Vybz Kartel to appear at his Freedom Street Concert in Jamaica on December 31, 2024. In spite of Vybz Kartel's incarceration, he has showed him love and support over the years. Among the leading international artists that performed on the concert were Busta Rhymes, Chronic Law, Shawn Storm, Masicka, Bounty Killer, Jah Vinci, Rvssian, Spice, Popcaan, and others.
At his estate in Ghana on April 10, 2025, Shatta Wale hosted Nigerian TikTok personality Peller. Their joint videos and promotional appearances garnered widespread online attention, especially in relation to Shaxi, his ride-hailing business.
When Shatta Wale's brand and marketing skills were examined at the University of Ghana's Brands and Marketing Masterclass on April 24, 2025, he was once more acknowledged.
Net Worth
Shatta Wale is now listed as the richest Ghanaian musician currently. His current estimated net worth is $30 million. Music and his other ventures are the primary sources of his fortune. At the moment, he owns the Shaxi company.
Cars and House
Every successful musician has a similar trait of owning and operating expensive cars, and the Dancehall King is undoubtedly no exception. On his social media accounts, he frequently posts updates about his collection of opulent vehicles and homes. He has stated that he only owns nine expensive cars.
Range Rover - 1
Mercedes Benz S550
G- Wagon
BMW
Rolls Royce Cullinan
Cadillac Escalade SUV
Lamborghini Urus
