Stonebwoy is a success story, I'm proud of him - Samini

Afro-Dancehall artiste Samini has praised fellow dancehall artiste Stonebwoy for being an exceptional artiste and making him proud.

According to Samini, he is very proud of Stonebwoy, knowing how he started his journey and how far he has come as an artiste.

Samini told Hitz Entertainment News, “I can't find words to describe how proud I feel for knowing the story and seeing someone rise from nothing to everything.”

Samini said Stonebwoy reminds him of how he started as a musician.

The CEO of High Grade Family said, “it's similar to my story when I walked into Ashanti International studio with my slippers trying to get a studio time, same way when he came all the way from Ashaiman to link me up trying to get heard by the nation.”

Stonebwoy was with Samini Music Record Label for some time before breaking away raising a lot of eyebrows.

In spite of the controversy generated by his departure, a proud Samini said, “I can look back at him and know that I've fulfilled my social responsibility, as in, give people a chance, make the platform available for anybody that has something to offer.”

On Shatta Wale's diss song about his mum, the 'Iskoki' hit maker said, it's normal for an artiste to insult in dancehall music and sees nothing wrong with it except when it extends to his family.

He, however, warned that the attacks shouldn't "go beyond me to my family and other people that aren't involved with this.”

After Shatta Wale apologised, Samini added that, “they [family] are the people that need to hear whether this apology is sincere and whether it even makes sense for me to associate myself with such a brand".

Samini, however, declined to state whether or not he will invite Shatta Wale to perform at 'SaminiFest'.

“The most important thing is that 'SaminiFest' is here to stay and it's a stage that's going to be on every other year so I can't say a particular person will never be on that stage. As the years go, the right time will come and people that are supposed to be on the stage will be on the stage.”

Samini, born Emmanuel Andrews Samini, started 'SaminiFest' in 2014 as part of his 10th-year-anniversary celebration in the music industry.

This year's event started with a clean-up exercise on Saturday, November 28, and will be followed by a charity party for the less privileged children on Wednesday, December 2, and then a corporate launch of his sixth album at +233 on December 3.

The streets of Dansoman where his club, Dancestardom is located would be blocked on December 4 and stands put up for people to exhibit products and services.

On December 5, there will be a showdown at Trade Fair where over 20 local artistes have confirmed to perform at one of the biggest concerts of the year.

The 'Linda' singer promised a splendid night of exhilarating performances. “Fifth of December will confirm the fact that SaminiFest is here to stay so every year regardless of where I'll find myself, I have to be in Ghana for the first week in December and make sure I'm on stage for hours for my fans,” he said.