Lagos lit up, the music thundered, and Ghana’s Wendy Shay stole the spotlight.
At the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), held at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, Wendy Shay emerged victorious, clinching the Best Female Artiste in Western Africa award with her hit song Too Late.
She represented Ghana in a highly competitive category that featured top artistes including 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 her acceptance speech, an emotional Wendy Shay expressed gratitude to her fans, partners and record label for their unwavering support throughout her journey.
She also thanked AFRIMA for the recognition, noting that breaking through as a female artiste in a male-dominated industry comes with significant challenges.
“This means everything to me,” she said, dedicating the award to women pushing through barriers in the music space and encouraging upcoming artistes to stay resilient.
The win was made even more special as the awards marked Wendy Shay’s first-ever visit to Nigeria.
Even before the announcement, the Ghanaian star had already captured attention on the red carpet, proudly showcasing her roots in a striking Kente gown that blended tradition with star power.
She later delivered a captivating performance of Too Late alongside her mentee, Tracy Shay, whose viral dance moves have helped boost the song’s popularity.
Listen to Wendy Shay’s acceptance speech below:
