As the Recording Academy unveils the nominees for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards today, Friday, November 7, 2025, anticipation is building across Ghana for dancehall sensation Shatta Wale, whose single “Street Crown” has positioned him as a strong contender in the Best African Music Performance category.
The nominations announcement, set for 4:00 PM GMT, comes on the heels of Shatta Wale’s official entry approval by the Grammy Academy on October 1, 2025, clearing the track for First Round Voting from October 3 to 15.
The self-produced hit, blending high-energy dancehall rhythms with Afrobeat influences, was submitted alongside works from fellow Ghanaian artist Epixode.
Shatta Wale, born Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr. and hailed as the “King of African Dancehall,” first tasted Grammy proximity in 2020 with his feature on Beyoncé’s “Already” from The Lion King: The Gift, which earned a nod for Best Music Video.
Rising from underground roots in the early 2000s as Bandana, he exploded into mainstream fame in 2013 with tracks like “Dancehall King,” securing multiple Ghana Music Awards.
His recent releases, including the 2024 album SAFA and the 2025 EP Voice of the Crown which featured the “Street Crown” have kept his momentum alive, amassing regional buzz and global attention including a remix featuring Jamaican dancehall heavyweight, Vybz Kartel.
The Best African Music Performance category, introduced in 2024 and won by South Africa’s Tyla before Nigeria’s Burna Boy took the 2025 prize, has become a battleground for pan-African heavyweights.
While Shatta Wale’s regional influence and prior visibility give him an edge, the field remains competitive with frontrunners from Nigeria and South Africa dominating ballots.
A nomination would mark his first solo bid and a milestone for Ghanaian dancehall.
Ahead of the official announcement later today, social media is already ablaze, with fans predicting Shatta Wale will take over the trends regardless of the outcome
The full nominee list drops today, with the ceremony slated for February 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Ghanaian involvement in the Grammy Awards began gaining recognition in the late 2010s, driven by the global rise of Afrobeats and high-profile collaborations. The first major milestone came in 2018, when producer Killbeatz won Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, for his work on Ed Sheeran’s Divide, Ghana’s inaugural Grammy win.
The 2020s marked a breakthrough for both producers and artists. Producers like GuiltyBeatz, Juls, and Samuel Soso earned nominations through work with Beyoncé (The Lion King: The Gift, Black Is King), Wizkid, and Tyla, with Soso winning in 2024 for Best African Music Performance on Tyla’s “Water.”
Reggae artist Rocky Dawuni became Ghana’s most-nominated performer, earning four nods in the Best Global Music Performance category (2022, 2025, and prior years). Despite growing influence, no Ghanaian lead artist has won a Grammy. The introduction of the Best African Music Performance category in 2024 increased visibility, though Ghanaian artists have yet to secure nominations in it.
As of 2025, Ghana boasts over 10 Grammy nominations, primarily via producers and global collaborations, with two wins, all tied to production credits.