In 2021, a young rapper from Konongo released a song that sounded like a confession. First Sermon mixed Twi and English, drill beats and highlife melodies, and it spread fast across Ghanaian social media. Its follow-up, Second Sermon, became even bigger, and a remix featured Burna Boy. Then came Kwaku the Traveller, which topped charts across Africa in 2022. Black Sherif had arrived, and Ghanaian music had a new voice.
Early life and the Sermons
Mohammed Ismail Sharrif was born in 2002 and grew up in Konongo in the Ashanti Region. He moved between homes and schools as a teenager. First Sermon, released in 2021, was raw and emotional, telling stories of struggle and survival. Second Sermon became a hit across West Africa, and a remix with Burna Boy expanded his audience.
Kwaku the Traveller, released in 2022, topped Apple Music charts in Nigeria and Ghana and became one of the year’s biggest African songs. His debut album, released in October 2022, was praised for its honesty and range.
VGMA, style and controversy
He won Artiste of the Year at the 2023 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, one of the youngest winners of the top prize. His music blends drill, highlife, reggae and Afrobeats, with lyrics about pain, ambition and faith. His second album, Iron Boy, followed in 2024. He has faced disputes, including over management and contracts, which he has addressed publicly.
He often mentions Konongo, and the town celebrates his success. Younger Ghanaian artists have adopted his emotional, story-driven style. His lyrics often describe hardship, betrayal and the pressure to succeed, delivered with raw emotion. Many listeners say his songs speak for young people struggling in Ghana’s cities, which helps explain why his music spread so fast.
Live shows and language
His performances are intense, and crowds often sing every word of his songs. He has performed across Africa, Europe and North America. He moves easily between Twi and English, sometimes in the same line, which lets his songs connect with listeners across Ghana and beyond. Fans abroad often say they love the songs even when they do not understand every word.
Black Sherif called his first big songs sermons. A generation of young Ghanaians listened, and many of them heard their own lives in the preaching.
