Ghanaian rapper Okyeame Kwame has weighed in on the enduring tension between dancehall heavyweights Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy, saying the rivalry may be keeping attention on the industry but comes with hidden costs.
Speaking in a recent interview on Channel One TV, he argued that while the feud fuels conversation and keeps Ghana’s music scene trending, it can also create unintended consequences for other artistes.
He explained that industry players who are not part of the conflict sometimes get wrongly linked to it, a perception that can influence how potential partners view them.
“Kojo Antwi is my mentor, and I am mentoring artistes like Amerado, Kuami Eugene, and Kofi Kinaata. I think the feud is unnecessary. It keeps the industry alive and gives gossip platforms something to talk about. It keeps trends going and social media buzzing. But when artistes like me sit with CEOs, they sometimes assume I’m part of that conflict.
“The way sponsorship works also affects policy direction. For instance, if parliamentarians sit to discuss what can be done for the arts while we are busy fighting among ourselves, it doesn’t help,” he said.
Okyeame Kwame also pointed to his own long-standing career as an example of why avoiding public disputes can be beneficial in building trust and staying relevant over time.
“It is not good for the industry; it’s not healthy. I can say that I’m still able to do business after 28 years in my career because people trust that when they work with me, I won’t engage in unnecessary conflicts, even if agreements don’t go as planned.
“You see, conflict is part of human nature. We all deal with intrapersonal conflicts, but when we interact with others, it can turn into interpersonal conflict,” he added.
Watch his statement below.
@channel1tvgh Okyeame Kwame reacts to the Shatta Wale–Stonebwoy beef: 'It keeps the industry trending, but it’s repugnant and unhealthy and unnecessary.' Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPARbIhRb0k #FaceToFace #ChannelOneTV #OkyeameKwame ♬ original sound – Channel One TV
