Samini is the African dancehall king but I coined ‘Afro dancehall’ — Stonebwoy

Ghanaian afro-dancehall artiste, Stonebwoy, has clarified his position in the ongoing debate about the origin of the term “Afro dancehall.”

According to him, while he respects and acknowledges Samini as the undisputed African dancehall king, he is the one who coined the term “Afro dancehall” to define a unique style blending African rhythms with dancehall music.

Stonebwoy made the remarks during an interview on Accra-based JoyPrime on Wednesday, July 16, amid growing conversations over his influence in popularising the genre.

“My African dancehall king is one and only Samini, yeah, with all respect and with full chest. The king of African dancehall, because there are accolades to show. The first winner of MOBO awards from Ghana, which is high. It means the work has been done and names have been said,” he said.

However, he maintained that the name “Afro dancehall” was his creation, even though the style existed long before.

“It is the name I coined. I never said I originated the style. There’s nothing new under the sun, but the way it is done matters. Find your niche, bring something to the table. That’s what I’m doing,” Stonebwoy explained.

His clarification comes after he celebrated Billboard’s recognition of Moliy’s chart-topping “Shake It to the Max” as Afro dancehall — a name he claims to have introduced into mainstream music conversations.