Sista Afia Credits Shatta Wale Collaboration as Turning Point in Music Career
Award-winning Ghanaian musician Sista Afia has revealed that her collaboration with dancehall heavyweight Shatta Wale marked a defining moment in her music career.
Speaking in a media interview with an Accra based media firm, the singer recounted how admiration for Shatta Wale initially made her hesitant to approach him.
“I was Shatta Wale’s biggest fan, so I was scared to approach him. The first time I met him, I was so shy,” she said.
Sista Afia disclosed that she was shocked when the dancehall artiste mentioned her name during their first meeting, as she believed he was unaware of her work at the time.
“He mentioned my name and I was so shocked that he knew me. At that time, I had released ‘Are You Ready,’ but it wasn’t a hit. I thought he didn’t know or hadn’t heard of me,” she explained.
According to the singer, she seized the opportunity to express her desire to collaborate with Shatta Wale, describing the moment as a dream come true.
“I told him it would be a dream come true to do a song with him, so I begged him to give me a verse. He told me not to worry and to work on the song,” she recalled.
She revealed that the song was recorded the very next day in Takoradi and sent to Shatta Wale through producer WillisBeatz, who played a key role in facilitating the collaboration.
“Within 20 to 30 minutes, Shatta Wale sent his verse. I think he was moved by the song and saw the vision, that’s why he hopped on it,” Sista Afia said.
The collaboration later became a hit, significantly boosting her career and reviving interest in her earlier releases.
“By God’s grace, the song was a hit and it influenced the other songs I had released earlier. I was jumping with excitement; I couldn’t sleep that day. I prayed over it and played the song many times,” she stated.
Sista Afia further revealed that Shatta Wale offered his full support during the music video shoot without charging her any fee.
“He came for the video shoot and didn’t take anything from me. From there, music started picking up for me and I began making hit songs consistently,” she noted.
Reflecting on her journey, the singer expressed gratitude for her growth in the industry. “I never imagined I would be celebrating 10 years in the music industry,” she added.
