Ghanaian dancehall musician, Stonebwoy, has opened up about the deep emotional pain he still carries a decade after losing his mother, Catherine Satekla, describing the experience as a depressing moment he has never fully recovered from.
In a candid conversation with media personality Kafui Dey, the award-winning artist shared that his mother was his “rock,” and her passing left a lasting impact on his life. Although he appreciates the support of his father, he emphasized the unique bond he had with his mother, making her loss especially difficult to process.
Recounting the heartbreaking moment, Stonebwoy revealed that he had just returned from New York after winning a BET Award when he rushed straight from the airport to the 37 Military Hospital, where his mother had been admitted. Despite being told she was recovering, he arrived only to be confronted with her lifeless body.
“Immediately I landed at 37, I was the first person they brought the body to. I had left my bags and everything at the airport because I was rushing. I was told she wasn’t well, but also that she was getting better. I still can’t get over that to this day. I had just won the BET and had spoken to her while she was in the village for a funeral, taking care of the boys.
”We kept in touch, and at some point, I was told she wasn’t feeling well but then got better, so we spoke once in a while. Then it became critical, she collapsed, was taken to the hospital, and I realized the situation was getting serious. She collapsed again, and you know, my sisters weren’t giving me updates. Even now, sometimes they still don’t. One sister I’m close to was supposed to make a call but didn’t, and I still can’t get over that. She only told me recently,” he recalled.
The ‘Therapy’ hitmaker described the shock and confusion of the moment, explaining that he had held onto hope she would recover. Seeing her body, peaceful and even more beautiful, made it harder to accept the reality of her death. In disbelief, he recalled trying to wake her, urging her to “get up” so they could go home.
“So as soon as I got there, they pulled her body to me. When I saw her lying there, I couldn’t believe it. I still had hope that she would wake up the next morning, so I opened her eyes but nothing. I touched her feet, and she was even looking more beautiful. You could see the difference; when you’re sick or when you die, you look a certain way, but she looked fresh and more beautiful. I kept saying, ‘Get up, let’s go home.’ And you know, I haven’t recovered from that,” he emphasized.
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Stonebwoy also shared that the emotional weight of the loss didn’t fully hit him until shortly after, when he had to travel to Mauritius for a scheduled performance. It was during the flight, when he was served food, that he broke down in tears. The moment triggered memories of his mother’s constant reminders for him to eat, something he often brushed off. Learning that she couldn’t eat during her final days made the grief even more overwhelming.
He further revealed that he had built a house for his late mother and believes her spirit still lives within it. According to him, he carries a strong sense that she is still present, even though he cannot see her, and he continues to revere her spirit. He described his mother as a woman who cared for everyone someone who would cook for anyone and even sacrifice her own children’s meals to feed a stranger, a reflection of her selfless and nurturing nature.
