I didn’t feel snubbed by Beyonce — Stonebwoy

Award-winning Ghanaian singer, Livingstone Satekla, aka Stonebwoy, tells TOFARATI IGE about his career, politics and jollof rice

Is there any Nigerian influence on your music?

I listen to everybody, including Nigerian musicians. However, I cannot tell you that I am influenced by one particular Nigerian style. I respect and appreciate every form of creativity that comes from Nigeria but my lifeline as a musician does not depend on anyone.

Some people felt you were snubbed by not been featured on Beyonce’s The Lion King: The Gift album like some of your contemporaries including Shatta Wale. What’s your reaction to that?

No, I don’t see it as a snub. It was a great thing for my brother, Shatta Wale, to be on that album. It made me happy because it is one of the biggest platforms he could have ever ridden on. It is important for one to keep rising and growing.

I have also had international gigs, including my collaboration with Keri Hilson.

You have had clashes with Shatta Wale in the past. What is the relationship between you now?

People know how we used to be but we are cool now, and are focusing on big goals. We have had some very rough times which also eventually brought some good because it got the whole Africa talking about us. My mother always told me that ‘good comes out of bad, bad comes out of good.’

How involved are you in politics and standing up for the youth of Ghana?

I have been very active as a voice of the youth in Ghana. Right from my days as a young ghetto boy in Ashaiman (Accra), I have always represented (the people) with songs. One of my biggest songs is from six years ago and it asks people where we would go if we make our motherland a bitter place to live. Right now in Ghana, everything is about politics because we recently had presidential and other elections. I was active in telling youths to get their voters ID so they could be able to vote. I also went on a peace walk and it was attended by almost 50,000 people.

What inspires you?

My biggest inspiration comes from my upbringing. I was born in Ashaiman, which is one of the biggest towns in Ghana. I grew up among the poor, the rich, the ugly, and the beautiful. It was such a wide mix. It is those hardships and other experiences that I use to make music.

That is why I sing a lot of ‘conscious’ songs. My music is real and it comes in different ways. That is why I sing about different things. Basically, my inspiration comes from everything that happens in life.

How do you coordinate the business aspect of your career?

I have been independent and doing my things for a while, so it was only right that I should own my company. It is not easy juggling making music and running a business but one just has to get the work done.

Some people think that African artistes getting international deals are being exploited? What is your take on that?

It is only individuals who have been involved in certain things that would be able to better explain what it feels like. I was communicating with the Universal Music Group but I eventually opted out. It was not necessarily because of exploitation. But, we have all heard that they (international labels) try to change one’s sound to what they can market and sell. However, there are some people who have good deals with international labels. I think negative incidents are only a part of the package.

What impact did the BET Best International Act award in 2015 have on your career?

The impact of that award on my career has been tremendous. Beyond me, it shone light on the Afro dancehall genre in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa. I am very grateful for that recognition. I have won a couple of other awards including the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and MOBO awards.

You have acted in a movie. Do you intend to explore an acting career?

I love to act and I am attracted to movies that mirror reality. I love to tell the African story.

Recently, after the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria, documentaries on Nigeria and Ghana kept coming up. We need movies that would represent us well. Beast of No Nation is one of the movies that I feel represents the African story. Sometime in April is another movie I love. I love Kunle Afolayan’s Citation too.

Take us through the experience of making your new single with Davido, Activate?

I think it was an idea whose time had come. I had been in contact with Davido for some years and we had been planning to do a song but it somehow never happened. However, about two months ago, Davido contacted me and said he was coming to Ghana and he wanted us to work on the song. I was also in the United Kingdom but I had to reschedule my flight. We connected and it was magic. We created the song right there.

What are the similarities between you and Davido and why did you decide to work with him?

We have always had a great connection. I see him as an amazing artiste and consider him to be the biggest Afrobeat artiste in Africa right now. I also believe I am the biggest Afro dancehall artiste, so we came together to do something beautiful.

How do you unwind?

There is no time to unwind. I just sleep and wake up and continue on the ‘grind’. I am grateful to God that I have a lovely wife and two kids. It is either I am spending time with them or attending to business or sleeping. Time for unwinding will come later when all the work has been done.

What is your assessment of Nigerian jollofrice?

I have eaten Nigerian  jollof rice in a restaurant in Lagos. I ate it with beans. However, I still knew the difference. I feel we have to address this issue once and for all. Why would Ghana and Nigeria be fighting over jollof rice which belongs to the Senegalese and Gambians― the Wolof tribe. Meanwhile, this reinforces the fact that as Africans, we have things in common. In a way, the banter is also good because if each side keeps saying theirs is the best, they would keep improving so as to have the upper hand. I consider that to be healthy competition. It has given job opportunities to people who have done business relating to jollof rice.