Award-winning Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie insists that music needs no translation. Choosing to rap primarily in Twi, he believes the power of a song lies in its energy and delivery, not its words.
In an interview with The Voice ahead of the UK edition of his Rapperholic concert, Sarkodie reflected on sharing international stages with stars like T-Pain, Giggs, Idris Elba, and Miguel. Those experiences, he said, reinforced his conviction that music transcends language.
“Music is the language,” Sarkodie said, noting that the phrase has long been part of his social media biography. Early in his career, he decided against switching to English simply to appeal to global audiences.
“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 explained.
For him, technical quality matters far more than linguistic accessibility. “The technical bit of music is that music is music. It just has to be very good,” he added.
Sarkodie pointed out that listeners often connect with songs even without understanding the lyrics. He recalled international artists whose work he enjoys despite not knowing the words.
“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 his own upbringing in Ghana, where fans embraced American rappers like Eminem and Busta Rhymes without fully grasping 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 made similar observations about Jamaican music, which connects with audiences globally despite its distinct patois.
For Sarkodie, the key is emotional resonance. “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.”
He acknowledged that every artist loses some listeners due to language differences but emphasized that delivery bridges the gap. “You’re going to lose something regardless. You just have to choose what you want to lose,” he noted. He compared his approach to American rapper J. Cole, whose deeply lyrical content may not fully reach audiences in rural Ghana. Similarly, Sarkodie’s Twi lyrics may not always be understood in the United States or the UK, but listeners can still feel the music.
“Ashantis will understand what I’m saying. America and the UK might not get the words, but they can feel the music,” he said.
Sarkodie credits this philosophy for his international collaborations with Idris Elba, Giggs, Miguel, and T-Pain. For him, global recognition comes not from the language he raps in, but from the universal quality of his craft.
Watch his statement below.
