What began as a nerve-wracking encounter with a longtime idol has become one of the most pivotal chapters in Sista Afia’s music journey, with the singer crediting her collaboration with Shatta Wale as a career-changing breakthrough.
Speaking on Onua TV, the Ghanaian artiste reflected on the unlikely meeting that set everything in motion, admitting that her admiration for the dancehall heavyweight initially left her too intimidated to even strike up a conversation.
“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.
That anxiety quickly gave way to disbelief when Shatta Wale unexpectedly recognized her, despite her still being in the early stages of her career at the time.
“He mentioned my name and I was so shocked that he knew my name. 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.
Buoyed by that moment, Sista Afia said she summoned the courage to pitch what had always felt like a distant dream, directly asking Shatta Wale to collaborate on a song.
“I told him it would be a dream come true to do a song with him so I begged him if he could give me his verse. He told me not to worry and to work on the song,” she recalled.
According to her, events unfolded rapidly. She recorded the track in Takoradi the very next day and sent it to Shatta Wale through producer WillisBeatz, who helped facilitate the connection.
“The next day, I went to record the song in Takoradi, then WillisBeatz sent the song to Shatta Wale. Within 20 to 30 minutes, Shatta Wale sent his verse. I think he was moved by the song and he saw the vision; that’s why he hopped on the song,” she noted.
The release, she said, quickly gained traction and sparked renewed interest in her earlier work, marking a turning point in how her music was received.
“By God’s grace, the song was a hit and it influenced the other songs I released earlier. I remember I was jumping with excitement; I couldn’t sleep that day. I prayed over it and played the song many times,” she said.
Beyond the studio success, Sista Afia also highlighted Shatta Wale’s support during the video shoot, revealing that he appeared without requesting any payment.
“He came for us to record the video but he didn’t take anything from me. From there, music started picking up for me. I was making hit songs consistently,” she divulged.
Now reflecting on her journey, the singer said the impact of that moment still resonates as she marks a major milestone in her career.
“I never imagined I would be celebrating 10 years in the music industry,” Sista Afia added.
