Jamaica, a country with 3 million people continues to influence global music from all over the world. The BBC takes a look at how Jamaican reggae music remains popular in Ghana, a country with more than 30 million people where it has influenced the music scene and even the way Ghanaians speak. Ghanaian reggae artists such as Stonebwoy(who’s name is suffixed with the patois spelling of “boy”) , Kojo Antwi and Rocky Dawuni have taken inspiration from the Jamaican reggae stars who performed in Ghana in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Shatta Wale took the pilgrimage to Jamaica to build a resurgence of interest in his career. Stonebwoy has taken many such journeys to the homeland of his heroes who he said he ” regularly listen to Jamaican dancehall dons like Capelton, Anthony-B and Beenie Man as a teenager – wanting to sound just like his Patois-speaking heroes,” per BBC. He recently visited to perform at the annual Rebel Salute concert for the first time. This was months after he made the statement that reggae comes from Africa.
His own annual BHIM Concert, arguably one of the most successful dancehall showcases in Africa.
“What’s wrong with learning to communicate in Patois, which comes as part and parcel of reggae-dancehall as a core tool of communication? If you love reggae-dancehall you ought to learn Patois,” the 34-year-old musician told BBC.
His Luke warm performance at Rebel Salute was embraced by Jamaicans but not in the way they celebrate Nigerian superstar Burna Boy. Still record companies like Def Jam, StoneBwoy’s label fly over Jamaica to set up shop in African with Def Jam Africa.
The label announced “We are buzzing as we welcome Ghanaian Afro-pop legend @stonebwoy to the Def Jam Recordings Africa Family. Stay tuned for fresh fire as he drops his brand-new single and lyric video, #Therapy.”
Stonebwoy who calls Jamaica his home away from home has collaborated with many dancehall and reggae acts including Beenie Man, Tarrus Riley and Sean Paul, Keri Wilson, Burna Boy, and more.
