Dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale has shared his life story as he turns 32 today saying he was born into a very comfortable home but his dream of becoming a successful musician made him choose a path punctuated by obstacles.
His decision to follow his dream led to friends neglecting him as well as his family losing hope in him.
“I was born as a man, a man full of ambitions, a man full of big dreams, a man full of aims and goals… I was born into a well meritable and comfortable home, but my dreams led me to another path.
My dreams took me to the hard part of life, the path where I faced countless obstacles. The struggle, the hustle, the unkind surroundings that I found myself… It was not my choice to be in that hardship, but it was my dream that landed me in such standpoint. I just followed my dream; I just wanted to become what I always dream of.
I know I got it, I know I got something big in me and I can’t hide it from the world. I faced many challenges that tried to prevent me from showing this precious gift to the world. My friends laughed at me, my love ones neglected me, my parents lost hope in me,” portions of his Facebook post read.
The artiste formerly known as Bandana resurfaced as Shatta Wale ten years after being in the wilderness. Although he announced his comeback through controversies, he has proven to be a force to reckon with in Ghana’s music industry.
To him, Ghana’s music industry is one which celebrates people whose cowardice acts are always mistaken as humility.
“Some opted against my style, some predicted doom for my career, so many bad plans to quench me off! So many stumbling blocks came on my way, because I was fighting for the right cause! They didn’t like me because I was straight, I hate lies and I love to face the #real fact!
I grew up as an underground musician to found myself in a weak and poor music industry where people hate to hear you saying the truth.
I found my career in a type of industry where cowards and bootlickers are describe as “humble” because they keep quiet on issues that need to be question about. I’m the straight forward type and always ready to stand for the truth, I don’t care if millions will go against my options, Iwill still stand as a loner and say what many were afraid to say.
Because of my way of life, many see me as the bad guy. the industry paint me as the disrespectful guy, the media describes me as the “arrogant type” fighting and always tarnishing my image because I’m not doing what they are instructing me to do.
I’m always being who I am, I will always stand for the truth, I will always be the mouthpiece for the dumb. I’m facing these people when I was just an upcoming and I’m still surviving without them,” he noted.
According to Shatta Wale, he has succeeded despite the ‘persecution’ because he was not born a loser. He expressed appreciation to God and his fans for the unflinching support.
“Upon all these dream killers chasing after my career, I never give up, I never drop my weapons, I never surrender to them, I still fight on and on! And as I always say, if I even fall down 10 times, I will surely rise back to my feet 100 times! I was not born as a loser, never! Today by god’s grace I can hit my chest and say I’m one of the best musicians in Ghana. Not by my might or by my knowledge, but by the spirit of courage that god has planted in me. (read 2 timothy 1:7) and you will understand what I’m trying to tell you.
My real name is Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr, popularly known as Shatta Wale. Today is 17th October and that marks as my birthday on the calendar. I thank God for my life and my career and I thank my super fans for their priceless support and the love. I came back for them and I will be here with them forever!, he noted.