- Sports journalist Gary Al-Smith has reflected on Shatta Wale’s recent detention by EOCO, using the moment to revisit the dancehall star’s peak years and the untapped potential of the Shatta Movement.
- Between 2014 and 2018, private WhatsApp groups called “Corporate SM” were formed by professionals who admired Wale but kept their support discreet.
- Al-Smith revealed that efforts were made to turn Wale’s influence into a global brand, but the initiative eventually fizzled.
- He argued that Wale’s charisma remains unmatched and could have powered a movement — if only it had been backed by the right structures.
As Shatta Wale faces scrutiny from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghanaian sports journalist Gary Al-Smith is using the moment to reflect on the dancehall icon’s legacy — and the movement that could have been.
In a candid social media post, Al-Smith recalled the rise of “Corporate SM,” a network of private WhatsApp groups formed between 2014 and 2018. These groups were made up of professionals — lawyers, executives, creatives — who admired Shatta Wale’s energy and influence but kept their support quiet due to his polarizing public image.
Behind the scenes, these insiders tried to build something bigger. A High Court judge drafted legal frameworks for the Shatta Movement. A top communications strategist mapped out a branding and intellectual property plan. The goal was clear: transform Wale’s raw charisma into a polished, global brand.
But the vision never materialized. The initiative faded, and with it, a rare opportunity to channel grassroots fandom into lasting cultural power.
Still, Al-Smith insists Wale’s impact is undeniable. The wave of support following his EOCO detention proves that his ability to mobilize fans remains unmatched. According to the journalist, no Ghanaian artiste — past or present — has wielded that kind of influence.
He ended his reflection with a bittersweet note: Shatta Wale had everything needed to build an unstoppable movement. What was missing, he suggests, were the structures to make it last.
