Kwaku the Traveller
Black Sherif
From Konongo Zongo to the world — the voice of Ghana’s restless generation.
Born Mohammed Ismail Sherif in Konongo in 2002, Black Sherif grew up between the Zongo and Kumasi Academy, freestyling over highlife and drill beats. His 2021 breakout “Second Sermon” — raw, confessional, sung in Twi, Pidgin and English — announced a generational talent; its remix with Burna Boy carried him continent-wide.
“Kwaku the Traveller” (2022) made him inescapable: topping charts in Nigeria and Ghana, dominating TikTok and radio from Accra to London. His debut album The Villain I Never Was drew global critical acclaim for fusing Asakaa drill, highlife melodies and brutally honest songwriting about hustle, faith and survival.
Festival main stages, a BET Hip Hop Award for Best International Flow, and the Iron Boy era have confirmed what the streets knew first: Black Sherif is the defining Ghanaian artist of his generation — and he did it without diluting a single bar.
Key facts
- Born Mohammed Ismail Sherif, 2002, Konongo.
- Breakout: “Second Sermon” (2021), remix with Burna Boy.
- “Kwaku the Traveller” (2022) topped charts across Africa.
- Debut album: The Villain I Never Was (2022), global acclaim.
- BET Hip Hop Award winner, Best International Flow.
Put the story in context: explore the History of Ghana to see the eras Black Sherif helped shape.
Black Sherif FAQs
What is Black Sherif’s real name?
Mohammed Ismail Sherif, born in Konongo, Ashanti Region, in 2002.
What are Black Sherif’s biggest songs?
“Second Sermon” (2021), “Kwaku the Traveller” (2022), “Soja”, “January 9th” and “Kilometre” — staples of the Asakaa and Afrobeats sound.
Has Black Sherif won international awards?
Yes — including the BET Hip Hop Award for Best International Flow, plus multiple Ghana Music Awards and continental honours.
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