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My parents split up affected me – Shatta Wale recounts trauma
Ghanaian dancehall sensation, Shatta Wale, opened up about a profoundly personal chapter of his life—the trauma stemming from his parents’ separation.
In a heartfelt online statement, Shatta Wale unveiled the emotional and mental toll his parents’ breakup exacted on him. He shared how witnessing their marriage dissolve at a tender age left an indelible imprint, inflicting enduring trauma that persisted into his adulthood.
Reflecting on his upbringing in a fractured household, Shatta Wale shed light on the emotional turbulence and instability it introduced into his life. He underscored the absence of a nurturing family environment, which eroded his sense of security and self-identity during his developmental years.
Shatta candidly discussed the challenges he grappled with in navigating the aftermath of his parents’ separation, often feeling adrift and vulnerable in its wake. He divulged how the experience etched profound emotional scars that reverberated throughout his relationships and personal well-being.
Recalling how his attempts to address his concerns about his parents’ actions were met with accusations of disrespect, Shatta Wale recounted his decision to seek solace elsewhere, eventually leading to a period of homelessness.
“Growing up, I lived with my parents for a while but they did not help me. They made a mistake and broke up. They created a broken home; our home was broken and it affected me so much. Our broken home affected me. Anytime I talked or complained about this, they labeled me disrespectful. So, I left them. I left the house. I run from my parents.
“You know what my parents put me through? Because of them, I slept on the streets, I slept in front of stores. Those days, it was the prostitutes at Nkrumah Circle who were watching over me. I slept at filling stations at Circle including the one that got burnt. I slept on the streets of Adabraka and so on,”
Shatta Wale disclosed that as a consequence, he adopted a coping strategy of withdrawing from others. He elaborated that, akin to his past encounters with his parents, he remains swift to distance himself from anyone who introduces turmoil into his life.
“As a result, I started running from stress, running from people who would stress me. That’s where I learned how to cut people off because I don’t want stress. I cut people off without thinking twice. I am the chief cutter. I have learned that in life, it is important to cut off anyone who wants to bring negativity into your life,”