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Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy

Two careers, one long argument

Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy, through what Ghanaian and international press have recorded: BET and Billboard, an Afrobeats turn, and a rivalry their fans still argue over.

Words: Onome T, Chief Writer · No photographs shown. The artists' work is described and linked through the cited press, never republished.

Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy

Pulse Ghana described the rivalry in August 2026 as long-running. Supporters of both men, it wrote, are known for "heated debates and comparisons over their achievements and influence in Ghanaian dancehall."

Set side by side, the two careers run through the awards, the charts, one artist's move toward Afrobeats, and three moments when the rivalry itself made the news. The scorekeeping stays with the fans.

Start with Stonebwoy and 2015. Graphic Online reports that he won Best International Act at the BET Awards that year, and that he "made Ghana proud" doing it. The same report names him CEO of Burniton Music Group. It also records his win as Artiste of the Year at the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

Then there is the chart history. A 2018 Pulse Ghana article, republished by GhanaWeb, calls the "afro-dancehall star" the first Ghana-based artiste ever to make Billboard's World Albums chart.

By 2019 his wins were spread across very different stages. GhanaWeb reported that year that he won best Dancehall artiste at AFRIMA for the third time. He also received a Billboard recognition for his contribution to Sizzla Kalonji's 2017 album, and he won a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award. A dancehall artist whose wins run from BET to AFRIMA to Nickelodeon has a claim on reach that does not rest on one audience.

Shatta Wale's record reads differently, and the difference is the crowd. The BBC calls him "Ghana's self-styled king of dancehall." It says he "has built a highly successful career on the Jamaican sound," with "numerous awards under his belt, a huge number of releases and legions of adoring fans." The same report notes that he has made "a fair few disparaging comments about Nigerians and their music in the past."

The 2018 Pulse article that credits Stonebwoy with the first World Albums entry gives Shatta Wale his own line on that chart: his album Reign debuted at number 6. The outlet also judged his social media fan base "undoubtedly the biggest in Ghana."

In 2019, GhanaWeb reported that he won two awards at the International Reggae and World Music Awards. He was also honoured for an outstanding contribution to Reggae in Ghana and globally.

Then he changed lanes. The BBC reports that he teamed up with Nigerian artists Tekno and Bankuli for his first Afrobeats album, Konekt. Its first single, Incoming, had just been revealed when the BBC spoke to him. His own account of the move is direct: "It's like I've graduated from dancehall. I just want to feed the fans with what is currently happening." Graduated is a big word, and it is his.

The rivalry has also made news on its own.

In October 2017, Pulse Ghana reported on Stonebwoy's "Ashaiman to the World" concert at Sakasaka Park. Pulse wrote that Shatta Wale's appearance drew "a lot of arguments on social media ahead of the event." Near the end of it, Shatta Wale ran to the stage. Pulse wrote that he went to Stonebwoy and hugged him, then performed for "both the Bhim Nation and SM fans."

In May 2019, Stonebwoy was named Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year at the 20th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, held at the Accra International Conference Centre. Pulse, via GhanaWeb, reported that a brief scuffle followed between followers of the two artistes.

In August 2026, Pulse reported that Shatta Wale said, during a TikTok Live, that he planned to use Stonebwoy's recent concert to urge supporters on both sides to end their rivalry and support one another. "I just know that I am doing music for the beautiful people who love Shatta Wale," he said. That is a stated plan.

So the debate Pulse described goes on, over achievements and influence. On one chart, at least, the record gives each side its own answer. On Billboard's World Albums chart, Stonebwoy got there first, and Reign arrived at number 6.

“Stonebwoy got there first, and Reign arrived at number 6.”
Sources
  1. BBC News: Shatta Wale, why Ghana's 'dancehall king' is trying Afrobeats
  2. Graphic Online: GH artistes and BET Awards
  3. GhanaWeb / Pulse: How Shatta Wale made it onto the Billboard Charts
  4. GhanaWeb / Pulse: Scuffle at VGMA between followers of Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy
  5. Pulse Ghana: Shatta Wale surprises Stonebwoy at 'Ashaiman to the World' concert
  6. Pulse Ghana: 'Stop comparing us!' Shatta Wale calls for an end to fan wars with Stonebwoy
  7. GhanaWeb: 3 Ghanaian musicians who 'bagged' major international awards in 2019

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