Shatta Wale happy for Best African Dancehall Entertainer award - Artiste’s Shattafest Ghana also wins Concert of the Year at IRAWMA 

On Sunday, African dancehall titan Shatta Wale locked in his spot as a powerhouse in global dancehall, walking away with two major trophies at the 43rd International Reggae & World Music Awards (IRAWMA).

The artiste took home the plaques for Best African Dancehall Entertainer and Concert of the Year for his massive stadium event, Shattafest Ghana.

“Taking home these two plaques just proves that nobody can stop the work we are doing,” an excited and grateful Shatta Wale told The Gleaner in a brief interview.

He continued, “It's a standard we are setting globally. Big up IRAWMA and the whole Shatta Movement family for the loyalty. We are now just getting ready for the new music about to drop … pah pah pah pah! I love you Jamaica!” 

The entertainer’s management team stated in a press release that these wins highlight Shatta Wale’s work ethic and his continuous push to bridge the gap between Africa and the Caribbean. “Winning both a performance title and the top live-event category proves that the Shatta Movement’s reach is undeniable. The work speaks for itself, and these awards show that the vision is working,” the release stated.

IRAWMA founder, Ephraim Martin told The Gleaner that he was happy for all the winners.

“It is a well deserved win … and for him to show appreciation to us and to the fans is a great thing,” Martin said.

“Shatta Wale’s supporters vote heavily every year … as a matter of fact, that is the trend set by the supporters for the African artistes in general. When you are nominated, regardless of how big you are, it is important to show appreciation to your fans and ask them to vote for you.”

The Concert of the Year win for Shattafest Ghana puts a stamp on Shatta Wale’s ability to pull massive crowds and deliver elite live shows, while the Best African Dancehall Entertainer title confirms his reigning influence over the genre on the world stage.

The celebration doesn’t stop with the awards. Capitalising on this international momentum, the entertainer's  management has confirmed that Shatta Wale is already gearing up to drop a slate of highly anticipated new music. Fans can look out for upcoming releases produced by Damage Musiq as well as legendary dancehall production house So Unique Records,

“The team gives a major thank you to Martin’s International, the IRAWMA committee, and the millions of Shatta Movement fans worldwide who hold down the movement. Moving through the rest of 2026, the focus remains on breaking new international barriers and keeping the momentum going,,” the release concluded.