It all started in 2021 when he poured his heart out in the “Second Sermon”. He had released a “First Sermon” in May same year but that seemed not to have sunk in though it made some waves.
So, he decided to follow it up with a second one in July. The message, this time around, was too strong and soul-piercing. The street couldn’t resist it, the club jumped at it, the conference yearned for the message to be served and it resonated even with the elites who, although are surrounded by the slums folks, can barely imagine their ordeals as chronicled in the sermon.
It was not just the song and what it was and is still conveying but the attitude and demeanour in the seemingly amateur video that caught the attention of social media users. It soon gutted the internet and took over the airwaves.
Many, including Grammy award-winning artiste, Burna Boy were swept off their feet by the viral song. The Nigerian singer was captured in a video jamming to the instant hit song and in no time, there was a collaboration between the African giant and the youngsters – a remix of the “Second Sermon”.
And there, a star was born with the stage name Black Sherif that has become a household name not just in Ghana, although his father, a spare parts dealer from the slums in the Ashanti Region named him Mohammed Ismail Shariff when he welcomed the now music star into the world in January 2002.
So at the 23rd Vodafone Ghana Music Awards which was held in May, 2022, he was duly crowned the Best New Artiste of the Year. His “Second Sermon” also won Hip Hop Song of the Year and he made it into the coveted category, Artiste of the Year barely 2 years after graduating from Senior High School although he didn’t pick up the ultimate award that night.
Prior to the VGMAs, he had sent strong signals when he performed at the 3 Music Awards, where he picked 4 awards including Song of the Year that he did not just come to pass a message but stay.
And he was damn right, he was here to stay.
His music started spreading like wildfire across the continent and travelling around the world when he released “Kwaku the Traveller”, topping charts and affording him the opportunity to share the biggest stages with some of the world most celebrated music stars.
He also earned major international nominations including the Best International Flow at the 2022 BET Hip-Hop Awards.
Then and there, Ghana was certain of a suitable candidate for it much sought-after Grammy award win.
And he has all what it takes to grab the most prestigious award in the world for the country.
But before he goes on to conquer the world, he must be celebrated at home.
On March 18, 2023, organizers of the most prestigious award scheme in the country, Charterhouse announced the list of nominees for the 24th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, an annual ritual since 1999.
Unsurprisingly, Black Sherif topped the list of nominees and it was a unanimous chorus – it was his year.
But the Table of Men (TOM), a group of media personalities and artiste managers pushing the agenda of gospel music in the country, disagreed.
For them, it was time for another gospel act to be crowned Artiste of the Year.
The TOM has the track record of making the impossible possible. They did it in 2017. Their influence and efforts culminated in Joe Mettle winning the coveted award that year to the amusement of many.
They repeated it in 2021 when Diana Hamilton walked home with the bragging right of being the biggest act in Ghana in the year under review.
So when they started a media campaign right after the release of the list of nominees, arguing forcefully why Piesie Esther should be awarded Artiste of the Year, it sent shivers down the spines of the street.
But Blacko, as he is affectionately called, had a plan.
The ‘Soja’ crooner, who appeared unenthused about the public campaign for the ultimate, fired the most important shot in the dying minutes of the campaign.
He reminded the public of the toil, sweat and blood he sacrificed all for “The People. The Culture. And the Music”, intimating that it was only right that he be duly recognised on music biggest night in the country.
He made this passionate statement in the afternoon of May 3, 2023, 2 days to the awards night. And it won the hearts of music lovers.
And so, though the Table of Men gathered around the table, they couldn’t overturn the decisive decision of fans, the Academy and Board of the scheme to crown Blacko Artiste of the Year.
After picking 3 awards including the Vodafone Most Popular Song of the Year on the night, it was clear that he was on his way to the ultimate.
Not even the theatrics of the presenter of the award and Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey while about to announce the winner could change the verdict, though he succeeded in getting audience at the event centre, the Accra International Conference Centre, those glued to their TVs and phones at homes and workplaces tensed and anxious.
“Black Sherif!” the Deputy Minister in a bicycle shaped cap accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai finally announced after putting the two leading contenders and their fans through a great deal of anxiety.
Thunderous cheers and wild jubilations greeted the announcement.
Black Sherif, escorted by his ‘Rasta’ gang, climbed the stage excitedly, hugging the two presenters and turning to the excited audience, he burst into singing Adane Best’s ‘Baa he Otε’.
After which, he delivered what can be termed as a victory speech.
And it was a well-dressed victory or better still, honour. And that was how history was made.
