Stonebwoy

Biography

Livingstone Etse Satekla (born 5 March 1988), better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian reggae and dancehall musician from Ashaiman, Accra. He is regarded as the leading figure in reggae-danchall from Africa.
He is the CEO of Burniton Music Group. He won the Best International Act: Africa category at the 2015 BET Awards and Artiste of the Year at the 2015 and 2024 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 to Universal Music Group's Def Jam Recordings, and its flagship Def Jam Recordings Africa, to release his fifth studio album 5Th Dimension×5th Dimension28 April 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Life & Money3:052Far Away2:193More Of You3:004Ava Wum Lo2:465Therapy3:206Forget2:527Secret Lover3:548Run AM3:189Into The Future2:3010In Control3:4211Activate3:3812My Sound3:0013Apotheke4:3414African System3:2015Where Is The Love3:0116Non Stop3:2117Mandozi3:45 (2023), which debuted number eight(8) on Billboard Reggae Albums Charts. He is commissioned to make three albums under the label.

Life and music career

Etse 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 his fourth year in primary school.
He obtained his high school certificate at Tema Methodist Day Secondary School and later enrolled at the University of Professional Studies to pursue a degree in Marketing, in 2013. However, he cut short his studies to focus on his music.
In June 2024, Stonebwoy graduated with a degree in public administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). In September 2024, Stonebwoy returned to GIMPA for a Master of Arts programme in International Public Relations and Diplomacy.
His fifth studio album 5th Dimension×5th Dimension28 April 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Life & Money3:052Far Away2:193More Of You3:004Ava Wum Lo2:465Therapy3:206Forget2:527Secret Lover3:548Run AM3:189Into The Future2:3010In Control3:4211Activate3:3812My Sound3:0013Apotheke4:3414African System3:2015Where Is The Love3:0116Non Stop3:2117Mandozi3:45, was released on 28 April 2023. It debuted No. 8 on Billboard Reggae Albums Charts.
His most recent release was on 24 September 2024, and is a single titled "Jejereje." The song's title translates from local parlance to “one's cup of tea,” implying that a person's actions shape their fate. In July 2025, Stonebwoy performed at the Reeds Festival in Switzerland, delivering a high-energy set and sharing a message of gratitude with fans.

Recognition and musical style

Stonebwoy normally sings in Jamaican Patois (Patwa or Patwah). In 2015, he received awards and nominations ranging from "Artist of the Year" to "Album of the Year". His sophomore album, Necessary Evil, was the recipient of three 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 in 2018, honours distinguished young people providing solutions to some of Ghana's problems.
In 2020, the Grammy Awards handed a plaque to Stonebwoy in acknowledgment of his role as featured performer on Grammy award-nominated single "AVRAKEDABRA" by Morgan Heritage.
In 2021, three albums on which Stonebwoy featured were nominated for the 2022 Grammy Awards.
In 2022, Vodafone Ghana recognized 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 GH¢ 10,000.
In acknowledgment of his achievement in securing the 8th position on its chart, Billboard honored him with a certified plaque.

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.
Stonebwoy out of his goodwill and on behalf of his Livingstone Foundation has decided to play a free show at an upcoming show hosted by HoodTalk Music Festival on May 9 at the Accra Independence Square to aim to raise $14 million towards the construction of five
pediatric clinics.
In an attempt to help the
underprivileged in society, Stonebwoy
chose to play for free at the HoodTalk
Music Festival though it is not
compulsory for artists to take up
corporate social responsibilities (CSR).
Through his charity organization,
Livingstone Foundation, Stonebwoy has
supported several institutions and
Communities, with its main focus on
equal access to education, accident
survivor healthcare, community
advocacy and youth empowerment.

Endorsements

Stonebwoy is the brand ambassador for Big Boss, an energy drink. In September 2020, Stonebwoy was named Tecno Mobile brand ambassador and unveiled the Camon 16 Series in October 2020.
Stonebwoy and his family are the brand ambassador for Ghandour Cosmetics.
They represent the GC brand, a division of Ghandour Cosmetics. This partnership was announced in August 2023.

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. In his 2016 Canada-America tour, he performed in New York City, Ohio, Philadelphia and Ontario. In the same year, he played in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
In his second Euro tour, he played in Denmark, Finland and Sweden in the last quarter of 2017. Stonebwoy performed at Reggae Sumfest, Afro nation festival in Portugal, Rotterdam reggae festival, Uppsala Reggae Festival. Rototom Sunsplash.
Stonebwoy headlined the 2022 Global Citizen Festival at the Black Star Square, Accra alongside SZA, Usher, Sarkodie, Gyakie, H.E.R, Stormzy and Tems. His performance was adjudged one of the best by industry professionals, critics and patrons.
In 2025, Stonebwoy embarked on his Up & Runnin6 World Tour, beginning with a North American leg in February. He performed in Chicago, Columbus, Toronto, New York, Worcester, and Silver Spring before headlining at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on 8 March, where he was joined by fellow Ghanaian artists Fameye and AratheJay. The European leg also included a performance in Hamburg, Germany, at the Uebel & Gefährlich venue on 15 March.
Ahead of the tour, Stonebwoy appeared at Paris Fashion Week Menswear Fall/Winter 2025, where he made headlines for his fashion-forward showcase. On 9 May 2025, he headlined the HoodTalk Music Festival: Unity Edition at Independence Square in Accra, an event that aimed to raise US$14 million to build five pediatric clinics across Ghana. The concert drew over 15,000 attendees and was broadcast to more than 195 countries.
Stonebwoy is also scheduled to perform at the Dream Wknd Festival in Negril, Jamaica, on 5 August 2025. In addition, he delivered a special performance with guitarist Six Strings at the Africa Prosperity Dialogues 2025 in Accra.

Singles

Featured in
2021: "Guns of Navarone" (Sean Paul feat. Jesse Royal, Stonebwoy & Mutabaruka)

Entertainment Achievement Awards

In March 2021, his album Anloga Junction×Anloga Junction24 April 2020 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Le Gba Gbe4:002African Party3:303African Idol3:204Ever Lasting2:575Nkuto3:466Bow Down2:597Only Love3:408Nominate4:159Journey3:2910Understand3:1911Critical3:0812Black Madonna3:2913Motion3:0814Good Morning3:1615Strength & Hope2:43 won the Album of the Year award in the Entertainment Achievement Awards. He also won the Male Artist of the Year Award.

3Music Awards

In March 2021, his album Anloga Junction×Anloga Junction24 April 2020 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Le Gba Gbe4:002African Party3:303African Idol3:204Ever Lasting2:575Nkuto3:466Bow Down2:597Only Love3:408Nominate4:159Journey3:2910Understand3:1911Critical3:0812Black Madonna3:2913Motion3:0814Good Morning3:1615Strength & Hope2:43 won the Album of the Year award in the Entertainment Achievement Awards. He also won the Male Artist of the Year Award.

International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA)

In May 2021, he was nominated for the 'Best African Dancehall Entertainer Award'.
He has been honored by Billboard after securing 8th position on Reggae Chart and received a plaque.

Personal life

Stonebwoy is married to Dr. Louisa, a dental surgeon and ambassador for World Oral Health with two children, Catherine Jidula Satekla and L Janam Joachim Satekla.