Dotted with images of fire blazing and black bodies on the ground, the music video for Stonebwoy’s latest single, “La Gba Gbe” (translated to "I’m Alive”), almost looks like it has been taken from the news these days. The topic is indeed relevant, but mind you, the Ghanaian Afro-Dancehall artist is not using it just for clout. In fact, he already realized he wanted to explore it when he was planning this record, way before the global pandemic and “Black Lives Matter” protests even occurred.
Despite the striking visual, though, the music video carries a hopeful message. Directed by award-winning visual artist REX and shot in Stonebwoy’s birthplace of Anloga, it’s a call for unity, hope and strength to free oneself from the mental slavery in order to live a fuller, happier life. Stonebwoy can also be seen in the video, fighting his inner demons and belting out his song, which is taken from his latest album Anloga Junction.
With such a heavy subject, the music video is filled with messages that you might miss at first glance. Luckily, Globetrotter had the chance to talk to Stonebwoy himself to discuss more about the video and why its theme is more important than ever today.
Check it out below!
Globetrotter Lab: First of all, congratulations on the release of your album! The music video for the track "Le Gba Gbe" is very striking. But before we talk about the video, would you mind explaining what the song is about?
Stonebwoy: The song speaks about life and the various stages of it but taking it from a very deep point. In this particular story the person is talking about his existence and the journey through it where he acknowledges life and death. Acknowledging the struggles of life yet encouraging himself with positivity, morals, values. This song is a poem, is a story for survivors, is a story to inspire the weak-hearted, is a story to remind us that we are on a journey and it is not a race of who finishes first or last.
Globetrotter Lab: How does the song tie in with the rest of the tracks and overall theme of the album?
Stonebwoy: This song is not track 1 just because we decided to put it to be the first track, but because it actually embodies the various parts of every piece that the album depicts and therefore defining what the theme of the whole album is. From the different languages used and the beautiful different types of melodies and rhythms that you will find on the rest of the album, to every style and more, this particular track 1 gives insight to that.
Globetrotter Lab: According to the official release, the video has "themes of mental slavery". What do you mean by that? And how can we break away from it?
Stonebwoy: Yes, absolutely. The video has themes of mental slavery, which is what we face as black people, as people of color and even as white people. But the world so far is witnessing the continuous physical and mental slavery that has been holding strong on black people and people of color in all aspects of life for hundreds of years, so we do need to break off these chains and win every battle to be able to restore our sanity, our dignity, our cultural values and our morals. We have to stand up and fight the good fight so that the future of the children of black people and people of color can grasp the freedom that has been taken away from them.
Globetrotter Lab: Why is it important for you to talk about this theme today?
Stonebwoy: This theme of freedom has always been and shall forever be this theme that will be with us. This theme will live after us, it is us, and it can never be taken away from us, therefore it’s for our own good to continue to sing to speak and to say this theme of freedom of black people, of people of all races and the freedom of the earth. This theme is the basis of Anloga Junction.
We’ll see what’s happening in the world today especially what humanity is doing to one another in the name of color scheme, where the foundation and origination has been highly disrespected and degraded in all aspects. It is indeed important to continue to speak this theme of freedom of breaking free from all forms of strongholds and uplifting the topic of love. We must practice only loving one another as humans because with love, I can’t do you no hate, I can’t do you no hurt and you will do neither back to me. We then will be able to all live in peace and harmony as one people of the earth.
Globetrotter Lab: How did the idea for the music video come about? Did you envision it when you first wrote the song? Or did you brainstorm with the director?
Stonebwoy: It’s actually directed by the song already so we just needed to put in strong visuals that would further explain the lyrical content and the melodies of this beautiful masterpiece. After listening to the song, the director Rex realized and was able to picture the things that I was saying in the song. So I called him over, we sat down and fine-tuned the concept and went all the way to my village of Anloga/Alakple town/village where it all began once upon a time.
Globetrotter Lab: I was wondering what does it feel like to be releasing a new album in the middle of this pandemic? Did you have any concern?
Stonebwoy: The truth is that this album has been in planning before the unexpected pandemic hit. Another good one with a good plan, the times couldn’t affect the release, although it has had some effects from movement and how hard we could’ve gone with promotion and traveling to do a lot more activation.
But notwithstanding we still went ahead to do the most we can, and this album is definitely judged one of the best coming out of Africa during COVID-19.
Globetrotter Lab: Lastly, I was also wondering how are you staying creative during this pandemic?
Stonebwoy: During this pandemic, I want to definitely stay creative because for me, my creativity cannot hold, but it rather jumps onto speaking about world crisis things that are happening around us. I am personally inspired at this moment to create, so this time hasn’t had any such negative impact on me. Although I am also going through these hard times as I’m not able to travel to perform.
Stream “Le Gba Gbe” here.
