Stonebwoy Explains How He Coined the Term Afro-Dancehall
Multiple award-winning Ghanaian Reggae/Dancehall artiste and global music icon, Stonebwoy, has explained the thought process behind his musical identity and how he came to describe his sound as Afro-Dancehall.
The artiste said his ability to blend different musical styles developed from his early experiences as a performer, when he discovered that he could sing, rap and perform raga music.
Stonebwoy recalled that during one of his first radio appearances, he was asked about his musical abilities and told the host that he could sing, rap and perform raga.
“I remember when the first time I went on radio, they asked me what I did, and I told the guy I could sing, I could rap, I could raga,” he said.
According to him, the radio host subsequently provided an instrumental, giving him the opportunity to demonstrate all three styles.
“He gave me an instrumental, and I did all three,” Stonebwoy recalled.
He explained that the experience helped him understand that his versatility was one of his greatest musical strengths and encouraged him to explore different sounds rather than limit himself to a single genre.
The award-winning artiste said he gradually began combining Highlife, Dancehall and Afrobeats to create a sound that reflected his Ghanaian roots while also connecting with international audiences.
“That’s how come I began to weave Highlife, weave Dancehall, weave Afrobeat into something,” he explained.
Stonebwoy said his experiences outside Ghana also influenced the way he thought about defining his music.
He recalled travelling to the United Kingdom for an interview with the BBC and DJ Eddie, where he anticipated that he would again be asked to explain what kind of music he performed.
He said he began preparing himself mentally for the question because his catalogue contained different musical styles and he needed a term that could adequately describe his overall sound.
“I’ve always had to find a way to describe what I did,” he said.
Stonebwoy noted that his music could reflect various influences associated with African musical traditions and contemporary global sounds, making it difficult to place his work within one conventional genre.
He said the need to find a clear identity for his music eventually led him to the term Afro-Dancehall.
The concept has since become closely associated with his artistic brand, reflecting his approach of combining Dancehall with African rhythms and other contemporary genres.
Stonebwoy’s explanation highlights the evolution of his sound and his deliberate effort to create music that represents both his Ghanaian heritage and his global ambitions.
