Wendy Shay Bags Best Female Artiste, Western Africa Award at 9th AFRIMA

Ghana’s Wendy Shay emerged victorious at the AFRIMA 2025 Awards, winning Best Female Artiste, Western Africa.

The category featured strong competition, including fellow Ghanaians Amaarae and Moliy, as well as continental stars such as Ayra Starr, Tiwa Savage, Josey, Djelykaba Bintou, Mariam Ba Lagaré, and Mia Guissé.

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An emotional Wendy Shay used her acceptance speech to express gratitude to God, her fans, and her support system. “I want to say a very big thank you to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ,” she said, while acknowledging the Shay Gang, Rufftown Records, and OneRPM for standing by her journey. She also credited young dancer and mentee Tracy Shay, whose viral dance to “Too Late” played a key role in boosting the song’s visibility and impact.

Beyond celebration, the singer spoke openly about the realities of being a female artiste in a male-dominated industry, recalling the bullying and challenges she faced at the start of her career. She encouraged upcoming artistes not to give up, describing her journey as proof that perseverance pays off. Dedicating the award to Ghana, Wendy Shay thanked AFRIMA and Nigeria for the warm reception, declaring the moment a proud one for Ghanaian music and female artistes across West Africa.