Shasha Marley
Julius Amua-Sekyi, popularly known as Shasha Marley is a Roots African Reggae artiste from Ghana. He is noted for songs such as 'Twin City Mafia', I'm not Ashamed of the Gospel, ‘Maata Family’ among others.[1]
Early life
Shasha Marley was born in Sekondi-Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana to a father who was a retired educationist and a choirmaster. Between 1979 and 1983, he was a student at St. John's Secondary School in Sekondi where he played with the school's band known as Mathew Chapter 5. Right after Secondary school, he went mainstream and then on went ahead to release several albums.[2]
Career
During his early days, Shasha Marley speaks of Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Steel Pulse and Jimmy Cliff as his major influences. He released his debut single,
'Tell Freedom' which became a major hit in Ghana and beyond.Since then he has gone on to release several other songs[3]
Personal life
Shasha Marley is married with three kids.[4]
Controversy over Maata Family
Though Shasha Marley was already famous in his home country and abroad, the one song that arguably gave him the most exposure particularly in Ghana was Maata Family. The song, which was released in 2007 had words that suggested flatulence in the Ghanaian parlance. For instance, the tittle Maata, in the Akan dialect means flatulence and people dragged him for using such words in his song. Also, the usage of Maata Tui, Maata Pue and Mataa Fish somewhat gave credence to the meaning of the song. But Shasha Marley has since refuted the claim and explained that the meaning of the song had nothing to do with flatulence, but rather the names of his pals in Papua New Guinea i.e. Maata Tuitui, Maata Pue and Maata Fish.[5]
Discography
Shasha Marley released about eleven songs in 2007. This includes Twin City Mafia, I'm not ashamed of the gospel, Maata Family, So Nyame Mo, Buum Buum-Waa Waa, Shame Politicians, Promise Land, I see no wrong with Jesus, Queen of Queens, Evil Spirits walk Away, Eagerness, Shasha's creed, Will you be my friend and Lost and Found. In 2001, he released Gloria Akuffo and Enemies are not Jah and went ahead to release tribute to Burning Spear in 2022.[6]
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Organisation | Award | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | KORA All Africa Music Awards | Best African Reggae Artiste of The Year[7] | N/A | Won |
| Ghana Music Awards | Artist of the Year (as part of Akyeame) | N/A | Nominated | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Song of the Year (as part of Akyeame) | Mesan Aba ft. Nana Quame, Mary Agyepong & Yoggi Doggi | Nominated | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Video of the Year (as part of Akyeame) | Mesan Aba ft. Nana Quame, Mary Agyepong & Yoggi Doggi | Nominated | |
| 2004 | Ghana Music Awards | Best Collaboration
(Okyeame Kwame / Daasebre Dwamena) |
Kokoko | Nominated |
| 2009 | Ghana Music Awards | Artist of the Year | N/A | Won[8] |
| Ghana Music Awards | Hip Hop Song of the Year | Woso | Won[8] | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Hiplife Artist of the Year | N/A | Won[8] | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Hip Hop Artist of the Year | N/A | Won[8] | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Best Music Video of the Year | Woso | Won[8] | |
| Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Talented West African Artist | N/A | Nominated | |
| Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Talented Young Artist | N/A | Nominated | |
| Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Talented Hip-hop Video | Woso | Nominated | |
| Channel O Music Video Awards | Most Talented Video of the Year | Woso | Nominated | |
| Africa Music Awards (UK) | Best West African Artist | N/A | Nominated | |
| Africa Music Awards (UK) | Best African Video | Woso | Nominated | |
| Africa Music Awards (UK) | Best Song | Woso | Nominated | |
| Sun City Music Video Awards | Best African Video | Woso | Nominated | |
| 2010 | Ghana Music Awards | Best Collaboration | The Game | Nominated |
| 4syte Music Video Awards | Best Edited Video | Woso | Won | |
| 2011 | Ghana Movie Awards | Best Cameo Appearance | Ties That Bind | Nominated |
| 2012 | Ghana Music Awards | Songwriter of the Year | Faithful | Won[9] |
| Ghana Music Awards | Best Collaboration of the Year | Faithful | Won[9] | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Record of the Year | Faithful | Nominated | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Best Hiplife / Hip-hop Artist | N/A | Nominated | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Artist of the Year | N/A | Nominated | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Hiplife Song of the Year | Faithful | Nominated | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Best Music Video of the Year | Faithful / Ohene Media | Nominated | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Most Popular Song of the Year | Faithful | Nominated | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Best Rapper of the Year | N/A | Nominated | |
| 4syte Music Video Awards | Best Hi-Life Video | Sika | Won[10] | |
| 2013 | Ghana Music Awards | Songwriter of the Year | Sika | Won[11] |
| Ghana Music Awards | Best Rapper of the Year | N/A | Nominated | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Best Collaboration of the Year | N/A | Nominated | |
| Ghana Music Awards | Album of the Year | N/A | Nominated | |
| 4syte Music Video Awards | Best Hiplife Video | Sika | Won | |
| 2014 | Ghana Music Honours | Hiplife Legend | N/A | Won |
| 2015 | MOGO Awards | Artist of the Year | N/A | Won[12] |
| 2016 | All Africa Music Awards | Best Male Artiste in West Africa | Small Small | Nominated |
| All Africa Music Awards | Songwriter of the Year | Small Small | Nominated | |
| All Africa Music Awards | Best African Collaboration | Small Small | Nominated | |
| All Africa Music Awards | Song of the Year in Africa | Small Small | Nominated | |
| All Africa Music Awards | Best Artiste | Small Small | Nominated | |
| 2017 | People's Choice Practitioners Honours[13] | Health Ambassador of the Year | Hepatitis B Project | Won |
| 2017 | United States Presidential Volunteer Service Award | Kingdom Humanitarian of the year | Hepatitis b project | Won |
| 2017 | Ghana Music Awards | Best Video of the Year | Small Small | Won |
| 2017 | People's Choice Practitioners Awards | Outstanding Health Ambassador’ honor | Hepatitis B Project | Won |
| 2017 | Glitz Style Awards | Most Stylish Artiste of the Year | N/A | Won |
| 2017 | Interkulterelle Migraten Integrations Centre (IMIC), Germany | Pan-Africanism Awards | N/A | Won |
| 2017 | Central Region Music Awards | Ayekoo Award | N/A | Won |
| 2017 | United States Presidential Volunteer Service Award | Highest Civilian Honour | Hepatitis B Project | Won |
| 2018 | Canadian Government Awards | Reading Ambassador | N/A | Won |
| 2019 | Highlife Music Awards[14] | Highlife Music ‘Big Band of the Year’ | style="background: #9EFF9E; color: #000; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2 notheme"|Won | |
| 2020 | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Record of the Year | Bolgatanga girl ft. Abiana x Atongo Zimba|style="background: #9EFF9E; color: #000; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2 notheme"|Won[15] | |
| 2021 | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Best Video of the Year | style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated | |
| 2022 | Vodafone Ghana Music Awards | Best Hiplife Song of the Year | style="background: #9EFF9E; color: #000; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2 notheme"|Won |
References
- ^ Allman, Kate R. (2016), ""I'm Not Ashamed of Who I Am"", Immigration and Education in North Carolina, Rotterdam: SensePublishers, pp. 81–102, ISBN 978-94-6300-809-9, retrieved 2022-09-20
- ^ Mireri, Julian (2021-01-15). "Shasha Marley biography: real name, family, songs, facts". Yen.com.gh - Ghana news. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
- ^ "Shasha Marley, Biography". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
- ^ "TB Joshua helped me to get married - Shasha Marley". Ghana Weekend. 2021-07-12. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ Jimbah, Ibrahim (2022-09-19). "Maata gave me all the awards and all the troubles – Shasha Marley". Obaatanpa Radio Online. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ "Shasha Marley". Top50songs.org. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
- ^ Agyapong, Chris-Vincent; Editor, Founding (2010-04-16). "Another Day,Another Awards For Ghana:Shasha Marley Wins Best African Reggae Artiste @ KORA 2010". GhanaCelebrities.Com. Retrieved 2022-09-21.
{{cite web}}:|last2=has generic name (help) - ^ a b c d e "Okyeame Kwame Tops Ghana Music Awards 2009". GhanaBase. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ a b Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri (15 April 2012). "Full List of Winners of 2012 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards…". GhanaCelebrities. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ "Naturalface Wins Big at MTN 4Syte Music Video Awards 2012 + Full List of Winners". GhanaCelebrities. 18 November 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ Nii Atakora Mensah (11 May 2013). "Full list of Vodafone Ghana Music Industry Awards 2013 winners...Efya wins first award plaque". GhanaMusic. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ Efua Idan Osam (30 March 2015). "Okyeame Kwame, Lumba, Paapa Yankson et al bag MOGO Awards". CitiFMOnline. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
- ^ https://enewsgh.com/2017/04/16/prof-frimpong-boateng-okyeame-kwame-others-awarded-pcp-honours/
- ^ Shine1 (2019-09-11). "Highlife Music Awards 2019 Receives Praises From Industry Players". Shine publications. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Kuami Eugene wins VGMA Artiste of the Year 2020".