Panji Anoff (L) looks back at Shatta Wale’s (R) early freestyle talent
Renowned music producer and CEO of Pidgen Music Panji Anoff said success had cost Shatta Wale one of his greatest gifts as an artiste.
In an interview with Kafui Dey, Panji Anoff, who has been instrumental in shaping African music, praised Shatta Wale’s talent and creativity, recalling how exceptional he was during his early days as Bandana.
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According to Panji, about twenty-five years ago, Shatta Wale could hold an audience spellbound with spontaneous performances, relying on his freestyle ability.
However, Panji believes that with success and a catalogue of hit songs, the dancehall artiste no longer needs to rely on that improvisational talent that once defined him.
“I feel Shatta Wale has lost one of his greatest skills through success. 25 years ago, play any instrumental in the world and give Shatta Wale a microphone, he would entertain you for an hour with freestyles, whatever he’s singing, whatever he’s doing. But now that he has so many hits, he doesn’t have the need to do that anymore.
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“So you know what I mean, one of his greatest skills was that Bandana was actually an amazing live performer, just performing off the dome. Terry Bonchaka too, once you gave him the mic, he couldn’t stop. The two of them, they’d just go,” he explained.
Panji also touched on the evolution of group dynamics within Ghana’s music scene, referencing what he described as the “trilogies” that helped shape the industry’s early creative collaborations.
He explained that before the popular trio of KK Fosu, Batman (now Samini), and Kokoveli emerged, there had been an earlier group of performers who influenced their concept.
He mentioned Bandana (now Shatta Wale), the late Terry Bonchaka, and King Ayisoba as the original trio who inspired that movement. According to Panji, the three used to perform together at gigs.
“Before there was the trilogy of KK Fosu, Batman, and Kokoveli, but they to some extent took the concept of that trilogy from Bandana, Terry Bonchaka, and King Ayisoba. Those three used to do gigs because Ayisoba would play a rhythm, Bandana could rap,” he added.
Shatta Wale 🤝 Live Performance & Freestyling
25 years ago, play any instrumental in the world and give Shatta Wale a microphone, he will entertain you for 1 hour – Panji Anoff @panjianoff
Full interview in the comments below pic.twitter.com/q13o5OF9ac
— Kafui Dey (@KafuiDey) October 7, 2025
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AK/EB
