African and Caribbean ties run deep. They’re tethered by a shared history, culture and sense of common identity. But I don’t think they’ve ever been more truly connected than they are now, evidenced by on-going exchanges in culture that began long before our generation came to be. Over the last two decades, musical crossovers between the Caribbean and Africa have begun to appear more and more frequently in popular music spaces. It has grown into a celebration of identity and inclusivity that brings people together to express and dance.
One of the modern vanguards of this movement, and self-proclaimed ‘King of Afro-Dancehall’, Stonebwoy, is in tune with that sentiment. Since the beginning of his journey, the Ghanaian artist has explored the soundscapes of reggae and dancehall, hunting the middle ground between those sounds. “It’s in our DNA’s” Stonebwoy says. “With all of the influences there may be, it is still deeply rooted in African-ness.”
Alongside his music, Stonebwoy is a fervent pan-Africanist, and boldly outspoken about advocating the worldwide movement that champions unity amongst Africa’s descendants. He seeks to enact real and impactful change through his charity, the Livingstone Foundation by offering medical and financial support and employment opportunities. GRM Daily caught up with him early last month to discuss all things life and music.
Firstly, for the people that aren’t so familiar with you, give us a little bit of background about where you raised and how you grew up.
“I come from town called Ashaiman, the largest in the capital. It’s one of the toughest places to come from. West Africa, Ghana, the centre of the world – make sure you’re there in December if you have the resources, you’re going to have a blast.”
Caribbean culture is clearly a huge part of who you are. I’m curious to know how prevalent that culture is across Ghana, particularly at the time you were discovering yourself, and what was your initial exposure to it? Who were the artists that informed your stance on music-making?
“What I’ve got to say, is that it’s obvious that African culture is a part of Caribbean culture, it’s dominant. I wouldn’t accept that Caribbean culture is dominant in African culture, this is the reality. I stem this point from the fact that Caribbeans, are Africans, first and foremost. So, whatever comes out of the Caribbean came from Africa.
“My exposure to reggae and dancehall is because these are my ancestors, that created the names “reggae” and “dancehall” from outside of the African continent. With all of the influences there may be, it is still deeply rooted in African-ness, which we all are. My exposure to it all was actually very seamless, because it’s in our DNA’s.
“Nobody had an issue with it, because when I was growing up everybody knew reggae, everybody knew dancehall, everybody knew afrobeat, everybody knew highlife. The E. T Mensah’s, Fela Kuti, CK Mann; the legends, Bob Marley, Angelique Kidjo, they were taking over the world and doing the most already.
“So, what we’re enjoying today as a multicultural afro-caribbean fusion has always been there. So, I fell into that quite easily, I picked up the inspirations of what spoke to my heart the most. I am Afrobeat, already. And when I say Afrobeat, I do not mean Afrobeat from a shallow dimension, the umbrella term known to the West. I mean Afrobeat that is well-incorporated into the roots of Africa that includes the foundation which is Highlife music. Can I repeat Highlife is the foundation of today’s Afrobeats. I already had that as a foundation and I put the reggae and dancehall on top because I really feel that vibration.”
It’s really inspiring to see how much of your life is activism and philanthropy. Why are these issues so close to your heart, and why is it so important to deliver the message through song?
“I’ll go back and say it again, can I run away from myself? If I never could relate, I probably wouldn’t feel the need to be so vocal about all of these things. But I do, so it follows me everywhere I go. My philanthropism is born out of the fact that I have faced these challenges myself. Younger me has gone through these challenges. You know, health challenges, educational challenges etc. These experiences have groomed me into becoming the person I am. I believe that I don’t have to have it all before I give back, because then I wouldn’t feel it. In that case, it might not even mean anything. It carries a lot more value for me when I know I’m not giving out my peanuts.
“I put up Ashaiman to the world [Ashaiman to da World], which is an event that has running for the past 8 years. It has changed the narrative of my community. It used to be a place people were afraid to go through because you could’ve gotten yourself robbed, it’s wild over there. But I’ve managed to make it look cool now, the perception of the area is different now. It’s made a lot of us proud, man. That is one of the initiatives on the entertainment side of the Livingstone Foundation. On the education side, we’re currently working with former governor of the bank of Ghana Dr Kwabena Duffuor, and his foundation, the Duffuor foundation, we’re trying to refurbish and build a secondary school in the village where I come from. That’s the latest project, we’re trying to kickstart. I always like to be hands on.
“Health wise, we’ve always reached out to support people with their bills, especially off the back of this pandemic situation. I relate because even me, I’m walking around with an artificial knee, it’s my life. I just like to live like that. I know I’m not God, I’m not going to save the world right now, but I’ll always do the most that I can as someone who belongs to the community. The same Livingstone foundation offers skill training, that people can take with them for the rest of their lives. My merchandise store is in the heart of that town, and I don’t take anything from that – the money that we earn from the store is pumped back into charity. We employ the people in the area, so everybody gets paid.”
At times, does it feel like shouldering the weight of the entire continent? Does that feeling ever overwhelm you?
“From time to time, I really feel the weight. But God in heaven knows that when I feel those feelings, I shrug it off and just keep going. I just wish the people could understand me better because at the end of the day, I’m just a human and how they receive and respond to what you’re doing can really affect and improve how you do things. You realise we live in a society where only few actually understand the code, and the rest just want to take.”
I read somewhere you were quite badly injured in car crash some time ago. What do you learn from a situation like that?
“I learnt how it feels to be disabled for 13 years. Walking with a stiff knee. How to hustle with a stiff knee. But I took it all in, it’s experience, you know. But you know, I think it’s all mankind. People always want to feel better about themselves, not by working on themselves but by sh*tting on other people. You will never feel good in life if that’s your mindset. But that’s one of the things I’ve learnt. Few people actually embrace people for who they are, and when they do its so empowering. I could talk to anybody on the street, and when you do, you’ll feel positive.”
What would say has been the single one thing that has challenged you the most throughout your career?
“It’s still on-going. You know when you have something inside of you that the world needs to feel and hear, but it’s going to take more than just me. It’s going to take a lot more. We have to build the right team, you need resources… to me that’s the challenge. If I get it wrong, then it bleeds into everything else. As an artist with a message, getting the world to log onto me is a challenge that I go through every day, or else I wouldn’t be here with you. I don’t think it’s something we should look at as easy, and it’s continuous. Why do I do it? Because I have a talent and I believe people should see.
“My knee is something that I struggle with every day, but I must live with it. It’s a challenge. I could be really bitter and selfish over that. I have an excuse to be selfish, but it’s really what makes me selfless. I have a beautiful wife and two children, these things are all challenges. Challenges don’t end.”
In your music, you’re a pretty open book. Your open nature is one of the things that is really inspirational about you. But where do draw the line? Were there any songs you made that were difficult to put on record or release?
“The fact that the words private and public exist says to me that there is a need to keep some things hidden, and a reason to share others. Our generation has everything out there, so it can be a tricky line to tread. Gone are the days when you’d write your EVERYTHING in your diary and it was just for you, you wouldn’t want anybody to know. Well times have changed and my advice to everyone, is that nobody is forcing you. People are putting too much information out there – It’s your own business. I share the things I have to and not the things I don’t have to.
“My family is private to me, I’m very conscious about sharing things related to my family. I have realised the levels of toxicity that exist and how our era is highly demanding of content, that people just end up meddling with. I’m really aware of what things I should keep to myself. But I must admit, I’m one of the more sceptical social media users; things that I tend to shelf a lot of other people are comfortable with sharing. It just gives me a lot of peace.”
What piece of music have you made that’s closest to your heart? What is your favourite Stonebwoy song?
“Bro, this is difficult to answer. I’m always creating things. Sometimes I create things that I don’t fall in love with immediately but I’m drawn closer to them through my experiences with them. But since you’re making me choose, I’ll give it to the last song released, “Therapy”.