The longstanding debate over who truly pioneered the Afro-Dancehall genre has reignited, but a prominent voice from Ghana’s music industry is laying the controversy to rest.
Karl Kporgla Gidiglo, former Artiste and Business Manager of award-winning musician Stonebwoy, has publicly backed the artist’s longstanding claim that he coined and championed “Afro-Dancehall” more than a decade ago.
Speaking to Graphic Showbiz, Karl clarified that the genre was born from Stonebwoy’s bold fusion of African rhythms with traditional Dancehall an innovative move that, at the time, was far from universally accepted.
“Let’s set the record straight: the term Afro-Dancehall was coined and championed by none other than Stonebwoy,” Karl said.
“He boldly pioneered the genre, blending African rhythms with Dancehall elements at a time when such innovation was met with criticism.”
According to Karl, this experimentation started in the early 2010s during Stonebwoy’s formative years in the music scene.
While the blend has since gained widespread popularity across the continent, its roots, he insists, can be traced directly to Stonebwoy’s early catalogue and artistic vision.
He also recounted the resistance Stonebwoy faced from some quarters in the music fraternity, including critiques from veteran highlife musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, who once described the fusion as “diluted Dancehall.”
“Despite facing backlash from some quarters and the likes of Gyedu-Blay Ambolley,” Karl noted, “Stonebwoy stayed true to his vision, helping shape a unique sound that now resonates across the continent and beyond.”
Afro-Dancehall, now a staple in the African soundscape, has evolved into a celebrated sub-genre that merges the energy of Caribbean Dancehall with the soulful and percussive flavours of African music.
Artists from Nigeria, Ghana, and the wider diaspora have since embraced the style, but Stonebwoy’s contribution, according to Karl remains unmatched and foundational.
