Accra: Veteran Ghanaian highlife musician Gyedu-Blay Ambolley has shared his thoughts on the musical style and craft of rising star Black Sherif. In an interview on Starr FM, monitored by GhanaWeb on April 3, 2026, Ambolley stated that, in his view, Black Sherif lacks a distinct musical identity.
According to Ghana Web, Ambolley expressed that although Black Sherif is doing well, his style of music does not strongly reflect a Ghanaian identity. "What Black Sherif is doing, he is doing his best, but there is no clear identification. Listen to the rhythm he is singing on, does it sound Ghanaian? Identity is very important, and every country has its own unique sound," Ambolley remarked.
Ambolley also posed a critical question regarding the legitimacy of titles within musical genres, questioning the claim of Shatta Wale being the Dancehall King, a genre not originally from Ghana. "What he is doing is good, but if there were a strong identity in his music, it would clearly show where he is coming from," he said.
When asked about his own career and the absence of a Grammy award despite his authentic highlife sound, Ambolley stated that an artiste's worth should not be defined by such accolades. He suggested that Ghanaian artistes could learn from their Nigerian counterparts by embracing and showcasing their cultural identity in their music. "The Grammy should not always be the benchmark. I consider my local recognition as validation. Look at the Nigerians; they are more authentic to themselves. The way they sing and structure their rhymes reflects their identity more than what we often do in Ghana," he added.