Stonebwoy covers ground in visit to Jamaica - Ghanaian artiste eyes even more collaborations with reggae, dancehall acts

A true global ambassador for culture, peace, and educating people through music, Stonebwoy has become one of the most recognisable performers to emerge out of West Africa. He is an idiosyncratic talent who is defying boundaries, and through music, has shared the ideals of ‘a world without borders’ through his eyes and through making connections with other stars, old and new, in the reggae and dancehall industry.

In his endeavours to place African heritage at the forefront, the Afro-dancehall dynamo speaks to people of all races and nations through music and wastes no time making the necessary connections to spread the word, sound, and power. With three nights to engage artistes in Jamaica, he told The Gleaner: “I made sure I pushed for certain meetings and planned out the stops from airport to studio on my recent trip there, which is how it has been for the past five or six visits. And it’s amazing because we don’t require a visa, and vice versa, for the two places – only for the countries like America and the UK, through which we have to transit.”

Stonebwoy added that Ghana and Jamaica are inextricably linked. “Ghana and Jamaica have remarkable ties, especially music-wise. It’s been a great step forward, each time, to learning about reggae and dancehall and sharing its roots, which is important for the work we do as musicians, and as Africans or descendants of Africa, we play a big part in continuing to grow the music, art, and culture,” he said.

Connected by the fibrous and fleshy roots of music and the stories of the people, Stonebwoy said he was hugely influenced by Jamaica’s reggae, and vice versa, even before the birth of his professional career, but over a decade, has sown the seeds to make a treasured coppice of collaborations.

“Formed from the era of Fela Kuti, Afrobeat has, in today’s world, when you go into the general making of the music, taken bits and pieces of identities – Bungo music, you find highlife style; the ethnic sounds and others – which have taken it to the present level, and because we love reggae and dancehall and hip hop we see them blending together. The Internet has sped up the process,” Stonebwoy shared.

The respect has been reciprocated by entertainers Kranium, Sean Paul, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Kabaka Pyramid, Morgan Heritage, Jah Cure, Popcaan, Alkaline, and Jah Vinci, who are some of the local acts to have tilled that musical soil with the Ghanaian sensation.

“Personally and musically, the influences for my music come from a wide background, all around the world, but these are some of the Jamaican artistes who are always involved in making sure the gap is well-bridged. Furthermore, I see the genres sharing with one another in the numbers, so African music belongs to Jamaicans as much as Jamaican music belongs to Africans. So this is the reason I continue inviting my fellow artistes,” he said. “There were plans to invite more reggae and dancehall artistes to Ghana, but there was little we could do in 2020 although it was still a successful year for me. So I am watching how 2021 unfolds. I mean, I leave everything in the hands of God, and February just started, so it’s about maintain the connections for now.”

Stonebwoy says he is also helping to change a history of separation by harnessing direct relationships, and for this reason, does not allow an opportunity to stop over in Jamaica to pass, “and it certainly won’t be the last”, noting that more collaborations have manifested themselves.

“A few of us have been communicating electronically, some of whom I have a good history with like Buju Banton. Once I got there, it was about immediately doing some work, and the time is right. The video for Motion from the Anloga Junction album, which features Jahmiel, was released a week ago, though shot last year, and we will be doing more as well. People can also expect music with me and Sean Paul as well as Jah Cure,” he said.

stephanie.lyew@gleanerjm.com