I Thrive Because I See Music As Business – Shatta Wale

Dancehall artiste, Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr., known in show business as Shatta Wale, says until Ghanaian artistes begin to see their craft as a business, they will not thrive in the industry.

This, he said, is what has contributed to his continued success in the music industry.

“Some people see this whole music thing to be an occupation, some people see it as something fancy to let me just wear a chain, come on stage, jam and let people jump around. Some people see it as a business and that’s why we call it show business. Even though we are performing to people, we also think about the business,” he said.

In a conversation on The Lounge last Friday, the ‘We’re taking over’ singer told the host, Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, “I believe when you really want to go far with your music, you really have to see it as a business because when you don’t see it as such, that’s when you come once and you just go back.”

According to him, Nigerian musicians are thriving because they see music as business and in order for their Ghanaian counterparts to effectively compete, they must see it as such.

Contributing to the discussion, Nigerian singer and songwriter, Tiwa Savage was of the firm believe that African musicians have the potential of excelling should they stay true to who they are.

“We really have a shot to make it work. We are not a small [continent]; we are a huge continent and I believe even without global success, I think we have enough people in Africa to make a huge career out of it as a musician,” she said.

My name is from God
Explaining how he came about the stage name ‘Shatta Wale’, he said: “It’s a name from God.”

“I’m always a serious person…I saw myself to be one guy who always wants to get whatever I wanted so I felt, why don’t I get a name that may sound or mean serious and the only name that came into my mind was Shatta and Wale was an abbreviated word I was using from school – World Alerted Lyrical Entertainer,” he added.

The Lounge with Kwaku Sakyi-Addo airs live on Starr FM every Friday from 7pm to 8am and on GHOne on Sundays from 8pm to 9pm.