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Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale has broken his silence on the cancellation of this year’s ShattaFest UK, revealing that none of the event’s organisers has contacted him since the incident.
According to the outspoken musician, his team has made efforts to reach the organisers, but their calls have reportedly gone unanswered. For Shatta Wale, the silence is not only disappointing but also disrespectful.
Shatta Wale explained that ShattaFest UK was his event, organised in partnership with Akwaba UK. The collaboration was intended to turn the annual Party in the Park event into a special celebration for members of the Shatta Movement and fans of Ghanaian music.
However, the musician said concerns had already emerged over how the event was being managed, particularly its promotion.
Interestingly, Shatta Wale claimed he had even predicted that security issues could arise on the day.
“I can boldly tell you, when we were going, I told all my crew that the police was going to raid the whole show, and most of them were surprised when that happened. It was my show,” he recalled.
The musician said he was just a few minutes away from the venue when he learnt that the event had been cancelled.
Instead of rushing to the venue amid the confusion, Shatta Wale said he remained calm and eventually returned home in London.
“I was just like two or three minutes to the venue and I was just laughing. When it happened, I was just calm, chill,” he recounted.
Beyond the cancellation itself, Shatta Wale said the financial arrangements surrounding the event remain unresolved.
He explained that his agreement with Akwaba UK was based on a partnership, with both sides expected to share revenue from ticket sales. With the event cancelled, however, the financial obligations have yet to be settled.
“I’ll still have to let my lawyers write to them and let them know it was an agreement. The problem is they have to pay,” he stated.
But while the money remains a matter for the lawyers, Shatta Wale said the lack of communication has been equally troubling.
Asked whether any of the organisers had contacted him after the cancellation, he responded bluntly: “Well, after everything, none of the organisers called me.”
He added that his team had tried to reach the organisers, but their efforts had reportedly produced little result.
“My team has reached out to them,” he said.
According to the dancehall star, even his representatives have struggled to get through.
“They are not even picking their calls. That’s disrespectful,” he added.
The controversy has also reignited Shatta Wale’s concerns about some Ghanaian event promoters operating outside the country.
He urged promoters to take their responsibilities more seriously when organising international shows involving Ghanaian artistes. In particular, he criticised promoters whom he believes may be more interested in making money than properly supporting the artistes whose names help sell the events.
“I’ll tell every Ghanaian promoter out there, if you know you are a promoter, stop that. You guys went there to hustle and make money, but stop using Ghanaian artistes to take visas,” he said.
Shatta Wale acknowledged that international promoters play an important role in taking Ghanaian music to audiences abroad, but insisted that the opportunity comes with responsibility.
“Do you appreciate that they are also helping put Ghanaian music out there? Then do it well. I don’t appreciate it. Do it well. They have to do it well,” he stressed.
The musician said he had invested heavily in ShattaFest because he wanted to create an event that would showcase Ghanaian music in a positive way.
He explained that he agreed to work with the organisers partly because he wanted to give them the opportunity to deliver a successful event for his fans and fellow Ghanaian artistes.
“I’m giving you guys an opportunity to let us make this happen. Let’s do it beautifully so that other artistes can come and enjoy this thing,” he said.
For now, the cancellation of ShattaFest UK has left more questions than answers, particularly over the financial agreement between Shatta Wale and the organisers.
And if the dancehall king follows through with his lawyers, the next act of the ShattaFest drama may unfold far away from the stage and inside a legal office.
