Award-winning Ghanaian rapper, Sarkodie, has reaffirmed his commitment to rapping predominantly in Twi, stressing that music transcends language and connects with audiences through quality and emotion rather than words alone.
Speaking in an interview with The Voice ahead of the UK edition of his Rapperholic concert, Sarkodie reflected on his journey as an artiste and his experiences sharing global stages with international stars such as T-Pain, Giggs, Idris Elba, and Miguel.
According to the rapper, those cross-cultural collaborations reinforced his long-held belief that music is a universal language.
“Music is the language,” he said, noting that the phrase has long appeared in his social media biography.
Sarkodie explained that early in his career, he made a conscious decision not to switch to English simply to appeal to a broader international market.
“I wasn’t willing to rap in English because then there wouldn’t be any difference. I wanted to hear my native tongue on big radio stations outside Ghana, and I was able to do that,” he stated.
For the celebrated rapper, the essence of music lies in its technical quality and emotional delivery rather than linguistic accessibility.
“The technical bit of music is that music is music. It just has to be very good,” he explained.
Sarkodie pointed out that audiences often connect deeply with songs even when they do not understand the language. He cited his own admiration for international artistes whose lyrics he may not fully comprehend.
“Some of my favourite artistes, I have no idea what they’re saying, but I still love the music,” he admitted.
He drew parallels with Ghanaian audiences who grew up enjoying American rappers like Eminem and Busta Rhymes despite not fully understanding their lyrics.
“Back home, we listened to Eminem and Busta Rhymes. Even though it was English, most people didn’t understand what they were saying. But it was very good,” he said.
He also referenced Jamaican music, which enjoys global appeal despite its distinct patois.
According to Sarkodie, presentation and emotional connection are what ultimately determine a song’s impact.
“If the music is very good, you’re definitely going to find the right ears for it,” he said. “You have to present it in a way that makes it pleasant for the listener. They have to feel it almost beyond what they’re hearing.”
While acknowledging that language can limit reach in certain markets, he believes artistes must choose what they are willing to sacrifice.
