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Livingstone Etse Satekla (born 5 March 1988), better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian Afropop, dancehall and reggae musician.
He is the CEO of Burniton Music Group. He won the Best International Act: Africa category at the 2015 BET Awards and Artist of the Year at the 2015 Ghana Music Awards. He is also a recipient of two Billboard plaques. Stonebwoy received the Golden Club plaque from Boomplay after surpassing 100 million streams on the platform. He has been described as the king of reggae and dance hall in Africa. Stonebwoy is also an actor, having appeared in the movies Happy Death Day and My name is Ramadan. He is a global ambassador for sanitation. In September 2019, he was made the brand ambassador for Voltic Natural Mineral Water.He is the brand ambassador of Tecno mobile in Ghana. In 2022, he signed unto Universal Music Group’s Def Jam Recordings, and it’s flagship Def Jam Recordings Africa. He’s poised to make three albums under the label.
Life and music career
Stonebwoy pronounced “stoneboy” was born in Ashaiman in the Greater Accra region of Ghana and began making music in his early school days. He realized his talents and abilities as a lyricist and scriptwriter at an early age, remembering writing and acting drama pieces as far back as the fourth year in primary school.
He studied at Methodist Day Secondary School the same year with rapper Sarkodie where he obtained his high school certificate. He continued his tertiary education at University of Professional Studies to earn a degree in marketing in 2013.
Satekla is married to Louisa Ansong Satekla, a dentist, with two children. They are Catherine Jidula Satekla and L Janam Joachim Satekla.
On 16th August 2023, it was reported that the artist has been robbed in the United States of America during his Fifth Dimension album global tour. During a shopping spree, armed criminals confronted them just outside the store. Stonebwoy later assured his fans that he was well and safe.
Recognition and musical style
Stonebwoy normally ragga in Jamaican Patois (Patwa or Patwah), and is considered a “multifaceted artiste” due to the various musical styles he possesses. In 2015, he received many awards and nominations ranging from “Artist of the Year” to “Album of the Year”. His sophomore album, Necessary Evil, was the recipient of 3 Ghana Music Awards from 6 nominations. Nana Appiah Mensah, CEO of gold dealership company Menzgold, sent out words of encouragement to Stonebwoy on Instagram for Stonebwoy being supportive. On 18 April 2019, Nana Appiah Mensah posted a photo of Dance hall act Stonebwoy saying he is proud of the Bhim Nation president for defending him and that God bless him.
He was listed as part of the 2019 50 (fifty) young CEOs, by YCEO and Avance media. The list which was launched earlier in 2018, was set out to honor distinguished young individuals pursuing the course of providing solutions to some of Ghana’s pertinent problems.
In 2020, GRAMMY, handed a plaque to Stonebwoy in acknowledgment of his role as featured performer on Grammy award-nominated single “AVRAKEDABRA” by Morgan Heritage.
In 2021, 3 albums on which Stonebwoy featured were nominated for the 2022 Grammy Awards.
In 2022, Vodafone Ghana recognised him for using his creativity and music to promote the awareness of environmental and sustainability issues. His song “Greedy Men” received an award and a cash reward of GHS 10,000.
In acknowledgment of his achievement in securing the 8th position on its chart, Billboard honored him with a certified plaque. This recognition underscores his notable accomplishment and success within the music industry, further solidifying his standing on the prominent Billboard chart.
Philanthropy
Stonebwoy established the ‘Livingstone Foundation’. In January 2017 the foundation announced a sponsorship package for five students of the Tema Methodist Day Senior High School, his alma mater. As part of celebrations for Stonebwoy’s 30th birthday, the foundation donated a sum of GH¢5,000 to the accident ward of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in March 2018. Stonebwoy has also opened the official BHIM merch shop in Ashaiman. Proceeds from the shop are used to fund activities of the Livingstone Foundation.
In 2020, the Livingstone Foundation in collaboration with the BHIM Merchandise Shop gave out free sanitizers as parts of efforts to combat the coronavirus spread in Ghana. Stonebwoy also donated sanitizers and other items to the Police Department in Ashaiman to aid them in discharging their duties during the coronavirus pandemic in Ghana.
In 2022, the Livingstone Foundation together with Duffour Foundation renovated a basic school that serves four towns close to Stonebwoy’s hometown.
World tours and notable performances
Stonebwoy kicked off his world tour in the Euro-zone in August 2014. He performed in Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria. His 2016 Canada-America tour saw him perform in New York City, Ohio, Philadelphia and Ontario. In the same year, he rocked Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sidney all in Australia. His second Euro tour saw him travel to the Nordic to thrill fans in Denmark, Finland and Sweden in last quarter of 2017. Stonebwoy performed at Reggae Sumfest, Afro nation festival in Portugal, Rotterdam reggae festival, Uppsala Reggae Festival. Rototom Sunsplash.
Stonebwoy performed at the Global Citizen Festival held at the Black Star Square in Accra on 24 September 2022. Stonebwoy was one of the headliners for the festival which was aimed at advocating for the end of extreme poverty in Africa and performed alongside the likes of Usher, SZA, Sarkodie etc. He was adjudged as one of the best performers on the show by patrons and critics alike.
Awards and Honors
Stonebwoy has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, showcasing his exceptional talent and impact on the music industry. Some of the notable awards and honors he has received include:
BET Award: Stonebwoy won the Best International Act Africa category at the 2015 BET Awards, a significant achievement that brought international recognition to his music.
Ghana Music Awards: He has been a consistent winner at the Ghana Music Awards, receiving awards for categories like Artist of the Year, Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year multiple times.
International Reggae and World Music Award (IRAWMA): Stonebwoy has received multiple IRAWMA awards in various categories, including Best African Dancehall Entertainer.
MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA): He has been nominated for and won several MTV MAMA awards, further cementing his status as a leading artist in Africa.
All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA): Stonebwoy has been honored at AFRIMA, winning awards for categories like Best African Dancehall/Reggae Act.
Grammy Awards: While he hasn’t won a Grammy yet, Stonebwoy’s collaboration with Morgan Heritage on the song “Reggae Night (Remix)” received a Grammy nomination, marking a significant achievement for him and the reggae/dancehall genre from Ghana.
These are just a few of the many awards and honors that Stonebwoy has received in recognition of his musical talent and contributions to the global music scene. His dedication to his craft and his ability to blend reggae and dancehall with Afrobeat influences have earned him a well-deserved place in the spotlight.
