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Award-winning Ghanaian dancehall artiste Stonebwoy has opened up about the emotional and physical challenges he has faced throughout his life, revealing how living with a knee disability and enduring years of ridicule strengthened his determination to succeed.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Africa, the “Into the Future” hitmaker said the insults he has received because of his disability have never discouraged him. Instead, they have motivated him to keep pushing forward.
“Opponents have called me a ‘cripple’ every day they do, and it doesn’t get to me. For anybody to use that against you, it means they’re not in the right frame of mind. They don’t know better,” he said.
A difficult childhood
Stonebwoy reflected on the financial hardships he experienced growing up in Ashaiman, recalling how he was often sent home from school because his family struggled to pay his fees.
Despite living with a stiff knee reinforced with metal implants, he walked several kilometres every day from Ashaiman to Tema Methodist Day Secondary School to pursue his education.
“You have to walk some miles to school while having a stiff knee with metals inside. So it toughens your mind. You have to have a different source of inspiration to be able to move,” he explained.
According to the award-winning musician, those experiences shaped his mindset and taught him to persevere through challenges that many people never saw.
Speaking on mental health
Stonebwoy also discussed the lack of awareness surrounding mental health, saying he often felt isolated while growing up because showing vulnerability was rarely accepted.
He noted that many people silently struggle with emotional challenges but are discouraged from expressing their feelings due to societal expectations.
“If you show softness, mental health is not really addressed. That’s how I’ve always felt—that I was alone,” he said.
Finding strength through adversity
The dancehall star believes his life experiences have made him mentally stronger and more resilient.
Rather than allowing his disability or childhood struggles to define him, Stonebwoy said they became the driving force behind his success and personal growth.
His comments have been widely praised by fans, with many describing his story as an inspiration for people living with disabilities and those facing difficult circumstances.
Stonebwoy’s candid interview has also reignited conversations about disability inclusion, mental health awareness and the importance of resilience in overcoming life’s challenges.
