Award winning Ghanaian dancehall artiste, Livingstone Etse Satekla, popularly known as Stonebwoy, broke down into tears during a performance at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
The emotional moment occurred when the musician came face-to-face with a childhood friend among the inmates during a recent visit and performance at the facility.
Speaking to the media after a donation exercise on Monday, April 13, 2026, where he and his wife, Dr Louisa, presented essential items to support the inmates as part of activities by The Livingstone Foundation, Stonebwoy explained why he became overwhelmed with emotions.
“As a boy, child, it’s not easy, the struggles. Anytime I go there to visit, I see somebody I grew up with. So it’s not like somebody I just know from the corner, a childhood friend who I grew up with. So today’s visit has made me realise where he is cut off from the outside world, that’s why I became emotional,” he said.
He added that the harsh realities of the prison environment further intensified his emotions.
“You realise that there are pertinent issues on the ground where we all have to be conscious about. Conditions are not as conducive; even for those who are home, it’s not easy for the majority. So how much more for those behind bars who are supposed to be living off a minimum wage of between GH₵1 and GH₵3? How much does foodstuff even cost?” he lamented.
Stonebwoy stressed that prisons are not places of comfort and reminded Ghanaians that anyone could end up there depending on life circumstances, urging people to make wise decisions and avoid actions that could lead to incarceration.
He insisted that his emotional reaction was genuine and not staged, emphasising his deep empathy for human suffering.
The award-winning artiste also reflected on his upbringing, noting that the values of discipline and love instilled in him continue to drive his humanitarian efforts. He expressed belief in the principle that “when you give, you get,” reinforced by his Christian faith that givers never lack.
During the visit, Stonebwoy promised to stage free concerts for the inmates every year as part of his ongoing support for the facility.
