BY ISSAH OLEGOR
Ghanaian dancehall musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has revealed that he has earned approximately $45,000 from gifts received during his TikTok livestreams, highlighting how social media platforms are creating new revenue opportunities for musicians beyond traditional music sales and live performances.
The award-winning musician disclosed the amount during an appearance on rapper YPee’s The Real Ones podcast, where he discussed his initial reluctance to embrace TikTok and how his decision to explore the platform eventually opened another income stream.
According to Shatta Wale, he initially considered TikTok a platform mainly dominated by Generation Z users and was therefore uncertain about whether it would be suitable for an established musician of his generation.
However, persistent encouragement from Ghanaian content creator Jackline Mensah eventually persuaded him to give TikTok Live a try.
The musician explained that he had previously relied on Facebook Live to interact with his followers before Mensah repeatedly urged him to explore TikTok’s livestreaming feature.
“It used to be Facebook Live at first. Until this lady named Jackline Mensah kept pressuring me to go on TikTok Live,” he recounted.
Shatta Wale said his initial reservations were rooted in his perception that TikTok was largely designed for younger people.
“At first, I was skeptical. What am I doing with TikTok? I’m not a Gen Z,” he recalled, explaining that the continued encouragement from others eventually convinced him to try the platform.
“When I opened my TikTok account, I had made about $45,000 on there because I get a lot of gifts during my livestreams,” he said.
At an approximate exchange rate of GH¢15.60 to the dollar, the amount would be equivalent to about GH¢702,000, although the actual cedi value would depend on the applicable exchange rate.
TikTok Live allows eligible creators to receive virtual gifts from viewers during livestreams. Depending on the platform’s applicable rules and conversion arrangements, these gifts can translate into earnings for creators.
Shatta Wale’s disclosure illustrates how musicians can use their established fan bases to generate income through digital platforms while maintaining direct contact with their audiences.
However, the figure he mentioned should be understood as his own account of his earnings; no independent financial breakdown was provided during the interview to establish the amount received after any applicable platform deductions.
