Ghanaian gospel singer Sonnie Badu has expressed his belief that highlife musician Black Sherif’s recognition as the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) Artiste of the Year was truly deserved.
He emphasised that Black Sherif’s remarkable achievements in the music industry throughout the year set him apart from his fellow nominees, which included gospel singer Piesie Esther.
While acknowledging Piesie Esther’s outstanding contributions to her music career, Sonnie Badu maintained that Black Sherif’s time had come for the award.
This decision was influenced by the widespread popularity and significant impact of Black Sherif’s songs in the country.
“I think it was an interesting rift. Piesie did excellent but it was good. Black Sherif won it; no one should twist it. But it was good for the industry, like I can sit down and say, ‘You’ve done well but let’s allow this person to go.’ Why? Black sheriff just received an award in the US, and that’s what Ghana wants,” he said.
Sonnie Badu further explained that it does not matter whether the person winning an award is a gospel or secular musician; what matters most is if the person is qualified enough to receive such an award.
He called for unity among players in the entertainment industry and urged them to support each other in the interests of the nation.
“If I’m part of the entertainment fraternity, everybody projects that guy. That’s what Nigerians do and that is so important now.
“So he [Black Sherif] has everything it takes to take Ghana to that place at this moment. And let’s not think of the Stonebwoy’s and the Shatta Wale’s and all of that; they didn’t do anything. As a building block is not as important as the block in the middle. We all built it into a blacksmith.
“We have to be deliberate. If I was an entertainment minister, I’d look out for this guy and say, ‘What do we need to do to project him in this season and maybe another season?” Sonnie Badu said in an interview with Hitz FM.