Shatta Wale Declares Love for Stonebwoy, Performs ‘Putuu’ at ShattaFest in Ho

Dancehall star calls for unity in Ghana’s music industry as thousands gather for MoMoFest X ShattaFest in the Volta Region

Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale delivered an unexpected message of unity at ShattaFest in Ho when he openly expressed his love and support for Stonebwoy before performing his colleague’s hit song, “Putuu.”

The moment unfolded during the MoMoFest X ShattaFest concert at the Youth Resource Centre in Ho on Saturday, October 3, 2026, where thousands of fans gathered for a night of music and entertainment.

But amid a marathon performance packed with Shatta Wale’s own hits, one of the night’s biggest talking points came when he turned the spotlight away from himself and onto a musician long regarded as one of his fiercest rivals.

Addressing the crowd, Shatta Wale declared that nobody could stop him from loving or supporting Stonebwoy, insisting that he was no longer interested in unnecessary conflict.

He then backed his words with a gesture few in the audience may have expected.

As his DJ dropped Stonebwoy’s “Putuu,” Shatta Wale joined in, performing along to the song as the crowd responded with cheers, singing and dancing.

For two artistes whose relationship has often been framed through rivalry, the scene offered a strikingly different picture.

“Nobody can stop me from loving Stonebwoy”

Shatta Wale used the moment to make a broader appeal for unity, urging Ghanaian artistes and their supporters to celebrate one another rather than allow competition to turn into hostility.

His comments appeared particularly relevant in an industry where fan bases can sometimes extend musical rivalries into heated exchanges on social media.

According to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Shatta Wale encouraged young people and music lovers to embrace unity and support one another, arguing that collective success could benefit both individuals and their communities.

He also used the occasion to celebrate artistes with connections to the Volta Region.

“When we talk about superstars from the Volta Region, we mention Edem, Stonebwoy and myself, Shatta Wale,” he said, according to GNA.

His point was that the achievements of the three artistes extend beyond their individual careers. Their success, he suggested, also demonstrates the depth of talent associated with the region and its contribution to Ghana’s wider music industry.

From fierce rivalry to public respect

Shatta Wale’s decision to publicly celebrate Stonebwoy carries added weight because of the history between the two musicians.

For years, the pair have been central to one of the most talked-about rivalries in Ghanaian music.

Comparisons over their influence, catalogue, international reach and standing within African dancehall have frequently divided fans, particularly supporters associated with Shatta Wale’s Shatta Movement and Stonebwoy’s Bhim Nation.

At times, the competition has gone far beyond music.

The tension reached its most notorious point at the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, when an altercation involving the two artistes and members of their entourages disrupted the ceremony.

The incident became a major national controversy and resulted in both musicians facing sanctions from the awards scheme.

Their relationship, however, has never been defined entirely by hostility.

There have also been public gestures of reconciliation and mutual respect over the years.

In 2017, Shatta Wale made a surprise appearance at Stonebwoy’s Ashaiman to the World concert, where the pair shared the stage and embraced before an excited crowd.

Following their 2019 confrontation, the two also publicly reconciled and spoke about the need for peace.

The scene in Ho therefore adds another chapter to a relationship that has moved between intense competition and moments of genuine solidarity.

Why performing “Putuu” sent a stronger message

Shatta Wale could have stopped after simply mentioning Stonebwoy’s name.

He did not.

Performing “Putuu” turned his words into a visible gesture of respect.

Released by Stonebwoy in 2020, the song became one of the musician’s most recognisable records, driven by its unconventional lyrics and infectious rhythm.

Hearing it played during Shatta Wale’s own headline performance, and watching him perform along, made the moment particularly significant for fans familiar with the history between the two artistes.

The crowd appeared to understand the significance immediately, responding enthusiastically as the song rang through the venue.

It was a simple moment, but one carrying a broader message: appreciating another artiste does not diminish one's own success.

Shatta Wale delivers marathon performance in Ho

The Stonebwoy tribute was only one part of a much longer night for fans.

GNA reported that thousands of patrons attended the event, with Shatta Wale performing for approximately four hours and taking the audience through a catalogue of songs spanning different stages of his career.

The concert also carried personal significance for the musician, who had described the Volta Region as his “motherland” ahead of the show.

His connection to the region became part of the night's narrative as he repeatedly acknowledged local supporters and highlighted the achievements of musicians with ties to the area.

Shatta Wale had also announced ahead of the concert that he would cover the cost of entry for fans, although attendees were required to support selected products and services connected to the event as part of arrangements around entry and crowd management.

The concert was initially expected to take place at the Ho Sports Stadium but was later moved to the Youth Resource Centre.

Organisers said arrangements had been made for security, traffic control and emergency response as preparations intensified for the large crowd expected at the event.

A message to the fans as much as the artistes

Perhaps the significance of Shatta Wale's comments lies in who was listening.

Rivalry is hardly unusual in music. Competition can drive creativity, build fan engagement and generate some of the industry's biggest moments.

The problem begins when competition turns into hostility.

In Ghana, the Shatta Wale-Stonebwoy debate has often extended beyond the musicians themselves, with sections of their respective fan bases fiercely defending their preferred artiste online and offline.

By publicly performing Stonebwoy's music at his own concert, Shatta Wale appeared to challenge the idea that supporting one artiste requires hostility towards another.

The message was straightforward: competition and respect can exist at the same time.

For an artiste known for his outspoken personality and willingness to confront competitors and industry figures, the moment also showed another side of Shatta Wale, one willing to use his platform to publicly acknowledge the success of another major Ghanaian act.

A memorable ShattaFest moment

Whether the latest gesture leads to another joint appearance or even fresh music between Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy remains to be seen.

But on Saturday night in Ho, speculation about their next move was secondary to what happened on stage.

Before thousands of fans, Shatta Wale openly declared his support for Stonebwoy and rejected the idea that anyone should dictate whom he could celebrate.

Then came “Putuu.”

For a few minutes, one of Ghanaian music's longest-running rivalries gave way to something much simpler: one major artiste enjoying the music of another.

In an industry where competition often generates more headlines than cooperation, that may be why the moment resonated so strongly.

Shatta Wale did not need a lengthy speech to make his point.

He praised Stonebwoy, asked fans to embrace unity, and allowed the music to do the rest.