Dancehall performer Shatta Wale, from Ghana, claims to be fully aware of the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a celebrity.
He talked candidly about the challenges he faces as a celebrity and how he overcomes them in an exclusive interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The ‘Show Mi’ hitmaker, who is well-known for his direct and honest demeanor, stated that he wants to remain genuine and honest with people despite his status as a public personality.
He expressed how much he wants to feel like an ordinary person when he’s not performing and how, when he travels to cities like London, he feels more free than he usually does in Ghana.
Shatta contrasted his experiences in Ghana as a prominent figure with those in the United Kingdom, saying
“I think I’m brutally honest; I want to be honest with people; I want to be real with people. When I’m off stage, I want to feel like a normal human, so actually coming here to London is giving me that feeling because when I’m in Ghana, I can’t go to places.”
He expressed how much he wants to feel like an ordinary person when he’s not performing and how, when he travels to cities like London, he feels more free than he usually does in Ghana.
Shatta contrasted his experiences in Ghana as a prominent figure with those in the United Kingdom, saying
“Sometimes I feel like I want to eat fufu in a local eatery or a public place, but I can’t do that, and that’s a significant issue for me. So, when people criticize me on social media, I just go live and talk to them as if I’m out on the street,” he explained.
“It’s not easy to be a star; it’s like you’ve bought a yard, you’ve built a whole prison yard, and you’ve locked yourself up every time. So people need to understand that it’s not easy for me. In Ghana, I can’t drive in the mornings or afternoons; I have to schedule all my meetings at night.”
Ghanaian reggae-dancehall performer Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr. Previously known as Bandana, he performs under the stage name Shatta Wale.
“Dancehall King”, “My level”, and “We taking over” are his most well-known singles. He is also well-known for the song “Already” from Major Lazer and Beyoncé’s Black Is King.
