Stonebwoy, the performing name of Livingstone Etse Satekla, is a Ghanaian Afropop musician from Ashaiman, Ghana. He is associated with dancehall and reggae, and releases music through 0207 Def Jam, Def Jam Africa and Def Jam Recordings.

Background

He is born in 1988 and comes from the Volta region of Ghana. He is the fourth of seven siblings. He begins writing and performing at an early age, making drama pieces in primary school and developing skills as a lyricist and scriptwriter.

Early releases and development

Stonebwoy releases his first radio track, “Makuma” (My Heart), while in his second year at senior high school, and follows it with several more songs later that same year. By his third year, he has built underground popularity, which leads to the track “Empress”; it continues to support his profile after he leaves school in 2007.

Career and collaborations

He later works with S24 Studios, a studio linked with songs by Samini, Tic Tac, Kwaw Kese, Okomfuor Kwaade, Afro Moses and Buk Bak. There he meets Samini in 2008, and the two connect. Under Samini Music, he releases his debut album, Grade #1, on his birthday weekend in March 2012, coinciding with Ghana’s Independence Day period. The album includes “Climax”, “Rat Race”, “Rudegyal”, “Pullback” and “Crazy”.

Before the album launch, he releases three singles: “Ghetto Love” with Irene Logan, “Above The Sky” with Edem, and “Onumadé” with Tinny. These receive airplay in Ghana and in parts of Europe, including Italy and Spain.

Performances and later activity

He performs at the Accra International Conference Centre, The Dome on 30 December 2011, and at the “Resolution 2012” event organised by Badhabbits Entertainment, alongside Ghanaian acts including Black Prophet, Eazzy, Edem, Castro, Iwan, Jupiter, Kaakie, Samini and Sonniballi, and international acts including Kiprich and Busy Signal.

Stonebwoy describes himself as the “Prince of African Dancehall” and uses the baritone music descant “BHIIM”, a term that becomes familiar to many of his listeners in Ghana and beyond. In August 2012, he connects with Jamaica’s Karamanti and features her on “X-Factor”, which plays on Jamaican radio and other Caribbean stations.