Ghanaian Dancehall music star, Livingstone Etse Satekla, otherwise known as Stonebwoy, has said artistes in the country, influenced Nigerian music legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
Speaking with Pulse, Stonebwoy explained that the fire of the Afro-beat music genre has been burning since the era of Ghanaian highlife artistes who created an invasion and influence Fela.
Arguing that Afro-beat has been making it to the world before modern-day music, Stonebwoy admitted that it was Fela who took the genre beyond the shores of Africa.
His words: “I believe in ‘Afrobeats to the world,’ but Afrobeats has been making it to the world before our era and we have to be truthful about that. We can’t bring it here, if it wasn’t somewhere before we picked it up.
“Big respect to the founding fathers – from the Highlife era, before it became Afrobeat. Now, our sound is called ‘Afrobeats.’ Maybe in the next 40 years, it will be called something else.
“One thing we can’t deny that the fire has been burning since the time of Ghanaian Highlife artists who created an invasion and influenced the great Fela.
“Fela then flew it away to the shores of America and Europe.”
“It’s just like saying you now, Motolani Alake and Stonebwoy… we look alike, and therefore, our names don’t matter. Of course our names matter.
“It matters for documentation and accuracy of history. Understanding our history is now where our brotherhood should eradicate any bad blood and give us the platform to be honest.
“If the credit goes to Ghana, leave it to Ghana. If it goes to Nigeria, leave it to Nigeria – we are the same.”
