For 3 years, the feud between un-awarded but undoubtedly Ghanaian artiste of the year; Shatta Wale and Charterhouse Ghana Ltd, organizers of the highly rated Vodafone Ghana Music Awards continues.
The Awards, by module, cannot and will never satisfy everyone; from fans, nominees and even to industry players. Following disagreements by both parties for the aforementioned; a matter that resulted in a court case before a final expulsion of the artist from the scheme, the popular Dancehall artist has remained absent from the annual music celebration.
But one person who has constantly “benefitted” from Shatta Wale’s absence from the ceremony is ace broadcaster, media mogul and CEO of EIB Network, Nathaniel Kwabena Adisi aka Bola Ray. Bola Ray owns another glamorous event which is not in competition with the award ceremony but another star-studded event which attracts most of the showbiz heavy weights and concert lovers.
Many (if not all) who attend the VGMAs so much desire to see the Dancehall king perform; as he brings moments of spectacle at his every performance. When you think you’ve seen it all with the Kakai hit-maker, you haven’t. From always having a new hit song to perform, to bringing his wife on stage, to pant drops, to controversial announcements, to charging an atmosphere by ferociously screaming on top of his voice non-stop, anything can happen during a Shatta Wale performance; as he gives his absolute all during his time in front of any crowd.
https://youtu.be/SVjq3VzpFng
Often held in the month of May; few weeks after the VGMAs, Bola Ray’s highly anticipated Ghana Meets Naija concert emerges – an event that pits top Ghanaian artists against Nigerian opposition, and in the last 3 years of Shatta Wale’s absence from the VGMAs, fans have clearly discovered a backup plan.
Bola Ray may not have openly admitted to this assertion, but the superior man understands what is right; when the inferior man understands what will sell.
Written: Rick I. Kotey Jnr
