The lights shone bright, the music roared, and Ghana’s Wendy Shay took center stage at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) held at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.
Wendy Shay emerged victorious, winning the Best Female Artiste in Western Africa award for her hit song “Too Late”.
She represented Ghana in a fiercely competitive category that included top artistes such as Amaarae and Moliy (Ghana), Ayra Starr and Tiwa Savage (Nigeria), Josey (Côte d’Ivoire), Djelykaba Bintou (Guinea), Mariam Ba Lagaré (Mali), Mia Guissé (Senegal), and Viviane Chidid (Senegal).
In an emotional acceptance speech, Wendy Shay thanked her fans, collaborators, and record label for their unwavering support. She also expressed her appreciation to AFRIMA, acknowledging the challenges female artistes face in a male-dominated industry.
“This means everything to me,” she said, dedicating the award to women breaking barriers in music and encouraging upcoming artistes to stay resilient.
The win was especially memorable as it marked Wendy Shay’s first visit to Nigeria. Even before the award announcement, she had made a statement on the red carpet, wearing a striking Kente gown that beautifully combined tradition with glamour.
She later delivered a mesmerizing performance of Too Late alongside her mentee, Tracy Shay, whose viral dance moves have helped propel the song’s popularity even further.
