Shatta Wale Wins Two Awards at IRAWMA 2026 – Ghana

Ghanaian dancehall heavyweight Shatta Wale added two trophies to his cabinet at the 43rd International Reggae and World Music Awards held in Florida last weekend. He walked away with Best African Dancehall Entertainer and Best African Dancehall Song for his 2025 single On God. The ceremony took place on May 18, 2026, and was live-streamed to fans across Africa, the Caribbean, and the US. Shatta couldn’t attend in person but sent a video acceptance speech thanking his SM fans and team at Shatta Movement Records.

IRAWMA is one of the longest-running awards shows celebrating reggae, dancehall, and world music globally. Winning here puts Ghanaian dancehall on the same stage as Jamaican and Caribbean acts who dominate the genre. For Shatta Wale, it’s another international validation after previous wins at the Ghana Music Awards and nominations at the BET Awards. The “Best African Dancehall Song” category specifically pits Ghana, Nigeria, and East Africa against each other, making his win a statement about Ghana’s strength in the sound.

On God dropped in late 2025 and became a street anthem in Accra, Kumasi, and parts of London. The track blends classic dancehall riddim with Shatta’s signature brash delivery and motivational undertones. Lines about grinding through hate and trusting God resonated with fans dealing with economic pressure. The song also got heavy rotation in Ghanaian trotro and okada circles, which helped it stay relevant months after release. The video, shot in Accra’s Nima and Osu areas, added to the authentic street appeal that IRAWMA voters highlighted.

SM fans flooded X and Instagram with “1DON” and “Shatta Wale to the world” posts within minutes of the announcement. Fellow artists like Stonebwoy and Samini publicly congratulated him, noting that Ghanaian dancehall needs more international wins to push the genre forward. Music producer Beatz Vampire said the win should push more Ghanaian producers to work on authentic dancehall riddims instead of chasing Amapiano alone. Critics who often say Shatta is “too controversial” had to acknowledge the consistency of his output.

With IRAWMA out of the way, Shatta’s team is pushing for BET Awards consideration and a European tour in Q3 2026. He’s also teased a collab with a Jamaican artist for summer. The two wins give him leverage to negotiate better festival fees and brand deals. For Ghanaian music, it’s another reminder that dancehall remains one of our strongest export genres when done right.