Renowned Ghanaian media personality Abeiku Santana has praised dancehall star Shatta Wale for transforming the way Ghanaian musicians are treated in the entertainment industry.
Santana described Shatta Wale’s efforts as pivotal in moving the industry away from a time when artistes were underpaid and undervalued.
Santana explained that Shatta Wale has consistently fought for better pay, respect, and professional recognition for creatives. “Musicians used to receive what amounted to peanuts, and they had to beg for performance slots,” Santana said, emphasizing that Shatta Wale’s advocacy changed that culture.
He noted that today, artistes are commanding higher standards for performances, from specific vehicles and self-drive arrangements to tailored hospitality requirements.
Santana highlighted that many musicians now organise their own headline shows, a sign of their growing influence and independence in the industry.
Shatta Wale, real name Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., is a leading figure in Ghanaian music, with millions of YouTube views and a strong social media presence that gives him significant industry influence.
Abeiku Santana, a veteran in Ghanaian media for over three decades, is widely respected for promoting and shaping the entertainment landscape.
Santana named other leading musicians, including KiDi, King Promise, Wendy Shay, Medikal, and Stonebwoy, as examples of artists benefiting from this new era of professional respect and fair treatment.