Stonebwoy has spoken out against the growing reports of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa, saying such incidents undermine the vision of a united Africa and leave him deeply troubled.
During an appearance on the Sent Back Podcast, which aired on July 20, 2026, the Ghanaian Afro-dancehall star recounted watching a video showing a South African confronting and assaulting a Ghanaian while telling foreigners they were no longer welcome in the country.
“I saw a video when I was coming over here and a South African was bashing a Ghanaian and said, ‘we don’t need you guys here anymore.’ And my heart was just bleeding,” he said.
Stonebwoy described the incident as painful, saying it was difficult to witness one African turning against another on the continent they both call home. He argued that such behaviour points to a deeper problem rooted in how many Africans have been conditioned to view one another.
“It’s like when I’m watching the video and I’m seeing a black man cussing another black man on their own continent, on their own land. And all I can see is how our minds have been played with. That’s all I can see,” he stated.
The award-winning musician called for stronger efforts to foster African unity, insisting that free movement and closer integration across the continent should be treated as priorities rather than distant aspirations.
He warned that barriers preventing Africans from travelling freely between countries could have lasting consequences for culture, entertainment and the relationships built across borders.
“As much as we talk about entertainment or I go Ghana, believe you me, if the government of Nigeria says that we don’t want Ghanaians, you will not find that peace anymore to be coming,” he explained.
Stonebwoy also argued that many Africans fail to recognise how political decisions and government policies shape their ability to interact, travel and build connections across the continent.
“But most of them, we don’t pay attention to the things that tend to seize us from enjoying our continent as a people. That is because the policymakers made it so. That is because the policymakers allowed it so.”
While condemning xenophobic attitudes, Stonebwoy made it clear that his remarks were not directed at South Africa as a nation. He acknowledged the country’s influence and contributions to Africa while stressing that the fight should be against division, not any particular people.
“Once upon a time it was ‘Ghana Must Go.’ And they sent out some Ghanaians and all those ones and all that. Now we don’t have that era. I love South Africa. I love South Africa and the contributions they make and all of those ones. I love Africa as a whole. So if I see some of these things on the social media, you realise that no, we need to cut down that mentality as well,” he stated.
He concluded by encouraging Africans, particularly the younger generation, to champion unity regardless of government action, saying lasting change must also come from ordinary citizens.
“It should be easy for all of us to roam around our continent. This is very important and it is not supposed to be left at the policymaking level. Let us as kids, as children of Africa, continue to preach this unity amongst us,” Stonebwoy further stated.
