The conversation about whether a Ghanaian artiste can fill the iconic London-based O2 Arena has been renewed after Nigerian singer Asake sold out the venue on Sunday, August 19, 2023.
The O2 Arena is the ninth-largest building in the world by volume, with a capacity of 20,000 people. Asake’s grand entrance at the arena was a memorable moment for fans, as he came on stage via a helicopter that landed in the middle of the venue.
He then treated the audience to a mix of tracks from his debut album, “Mr. Money With The Vibe,” and his second project, “Work Of Art.”
Nigerian music stars like Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy, and even Tiwa Savage have all successfully sold out the iconic venue, putting immense pressure on Ghanaian artists.
There is a growing consensus that Ghanaian artists do not have the talent and the drive to sell out a major venue like the O2 Arena.
But In this article, GhanaWeekend profiles the Ghanaian artists who have the potential to sell out the London-based Venue.
1. Shatta Wale:
Charles Nii Amarh-Mensah Jr better known as Shatta Wale is a renowned figure in not only the Ghanaian music industry but also throughout Africa.
The multiple-award-winning Dancehall artiste commands a vast and faithful fan base in Ghana and beyond, and his music is recognised for its infectious tunes and groovy rhythms that have dominated the charts.
Recently, he staged his concert ‘Freedom Wave’, which sold out the 48,000-seater Accra Sports Stadium.
2. Stonebwoy:
Stonebwoy is an Afro-dancehall musician who has gained worldwide recognition. His music is a fusion of dancehall, reggae, and Afrobeats, and it has been featured on various international streaming platforms.
He has won numerous local and International awards including BET awards for Best International Act: Africa in 2015.
Livingstone Etse Satekla, better known as Stonebwoy, has performed at numerous music festivals globally and is currently on his 5th Dimension Tour in America.
3. Black Sherif
Born and raised in Konongo in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Black Sheriff is one of the newest Ghanaian artists making waves globally with his hit songs.
With over 2. million followers across social media, Black Sheriff is one of the most streamed Ghanaian rappers on all the streaming platforms. His music is a blend of Ghanaian Highlife with reggae, hip-hop, and other genres.
He has even gained the attention of top musicians globally, including DJ Khaled, who described his songs as ‘music that touches your soul’.
The ‘Kweku The Traveller’ hitmaker currently leads the pack as the Ghanaian artiste with the most nominations at the first-ever Trace Awards 2023.
He is up for Best Artist Africa – Anglophone, and Best Collaboration for his remix of “Second Sermon” featuring Grammy-award-winning Nigerian artiste Burna Boy.
He has won several awards and has the bragging right as the reigning Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) Artiste of the Year
4. King Promise:
King Promise has elephantine popularity throughout Africa due to his current hit song “Terminator”, which has become the number one song on the continent. His smooth vocals and catchy melodies are highly admired by both critics and fans. Recently, he was the only Ghanaian artist to perform at WizKid’s concert held at Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium.
5. Sarkodie:
Sarkodie is a highly acclaimed African rapper who is known for his lyrical prowess and energetic performances.
He is the most decorated rapper in Africa, having won numerous awards, including the BET Award for Best International Act: Africa, the MTV Africa Music Award for Best Hip Hop, and the Vodafone Ghana Music Award for Artiste of the Decade.
Known in real life as Michael Owusu Addo, Sarkodie’s 2023 “Jamz World Tour” has been a huge success, with sell-out shows in cities across the globe.
6. Amakye Dede:
While many may be surprised to see Amakye Dede’s name on the list, the legendary Highlife musician is a bona fide crowd-puller.
With over 40 years of experience in the music industry, Amakye Dede has a loyal following of fans worldwide who will flock to see him perform, regardless of whether he has released a hit song in recent years.
His energetic stage presence and infectious personality are indubitable to keep the audience entertained from start to finish.
In addition to the aforementioned artists, there are several other Ghanaian artists who are making waves in the international music scene.
These include R2bees, Camidoh, Amaarae, King Ayisoba, Santrofi Band, and Joseph Matthew – a UK-based Afro-Gospel artiste who is out with a single dubbed ‘Promise Land’.
With their continued success, a Ghanaian artiste will likely sell out the O2 Arena shortly.
