Ghanaian rapper Samuel Owusu Addo better known as Sarkodie has spoken out about why he prefers to rap in Twi, stating that music speaks to people beyond language.
As he prepared for the UK run of his Rapperholic show, the rapper talked about his experience performing on stages throughout the world with artists like Miguel, Giggs, T-Pain, and Idris Elba in an interview with The Voice. He said the intercultural encounters confirmed his long-held conviction that music is a global language.
Sarkodie stated that “music is the language,” a statement that has been a part of his social media biography for a while. He clarified that he purposefully chose not to switch to English early in his career in order to appeal to audiences around the world.
“I didn’t want to rap in English since there wouldn’t be any difference,” he stated. “I wanted to hear my native tongue on big radio stations outside Ghana , and I was able to do that”
The rapper emphasized that music’s mechanical underpinnings transcend language. He believes that delivery and quality are more important than language accessibility.