Songstress Gyakie has stated that one cannot talk about Dancehall and Reggae in Ghana without mentioning Shatta Wale as one of the first names.
In an interview with the Grammy Recording Academy, published on their website on August 26, 2025, Gyakie, who is set to release her debut album, which features Shatta Wale on one of the tracks, spoke about what it means to collaborate with the dancehall icon, describing him as one of the most impactful figures in Ghanaian music.
Online trolls have made performing on stage feel like courtroom – Gyakie
Her upcoming album boasts a diverse lineup of featured artistes, including American singer 6lack, UK rapper Headie One, Nigerian producer-singer Young Jonn, and Ghana’s own Shatta Wale.
According to Gyakie, each collaboration was based on chemistry and genuine musical connection.
Shatta Wale appears on track four of the album, a song titled “Harmattan.” Gyakie revealed that after listening back to her initial recording, his was the first voice that came to mind as the perfect complement to the track.
It’s one of those things the devil puts in your way – Gyakie on 2023 incident involving manager
She shared that the process of making the song was smooth and organic. She said, after sending the track over, Shatta Wale did not only add his verse but also showed enthusiasm about the collaboration.
Gyakie explained that every artiste who appeared on the album was chosen because of a genuine desire to connect musically, not just for the sake of adding star power.
“In Ghana, when it comes to Dancehall and Reggae, Shatta Wale is one of the first names people mention. He’s done so much for the industry. After I recorded ‘Harmattan,’ I felt it needed someone else, and his was the first voice I imagined on it. We sent the track to him, and I could tell that he loved it because he put so much effort into his verse.
“I remember speaking with him on the phone, and he told me how much he enjoyed recording it and how good he thought the song was. I’m really grateful he gave his best.
“What I love about this album is that every collaboration came from a genuine need to connect, so it all felt natural, you can hear that these are people who really wanted to make music together. Sometimes with collaborations, it can be strictly about doing your part. But on this project, it was different.
“These are friends who respect my music and I respect theirs. They loved the songs so the process was easy and it made the music even sweeter. Looking at how big these artists are in the industry, it means a lot that they chose to be part of my music.
“It’s never easy to send a track to someone at that level and have them agree, no matter how good you are. The fact that they believed in the songs and wanted to contribute tells me I’m doing something right,” Gyakie stated.
GhanaWeb’s latest documentary, Sex for Fish, that explores the plights of teenage girls in coastal communities, all in an attempt to survive, is out. Watch it below:
AK/EB
