Sherifa Gunu Defends Traditional Music, Slams “Colo” Label

Ghanaian traditional music artiste Sherifa Gunu has voiced her concern over the negative perception of traditional music, asserting that it is not outdated or “colonial” (“colo”) but rather a genuine reflection of Ghana’s rich musical heritage.

She expressed her disappointment that while Nigerian musicians actively promote their cultural identity through traditional music, many Ghanaian artistes seem to disregard and look down upon a genre that showcases their own unique cultural expression.

Sherifa Gunu (real name Osman Sherifatu Gunu) revealed that this damaging “colo” label discourages some Ghanaian musicians from collaborating with her. She noted the irony that these same artistes who dismiss traditional music and musicians in Ghana readily incorporate local/traditional instruments into their performances during European tours for global appeal.

“It will interest you to know that many Ghanaian artistes don’t want to work with traditional musicians because they think our music is too outdated and too ‘colo’. They act very big here, sounding like foreigners, but go abroad and suddenly play kora and drums. That’s just hypocrisy,” she stated.

Sherifa Gunu emphasized the success of Nigerian artistes in promoting their culture through music: “Our brothers and sisters in Nigeria have seen the light and are seriously promoting their traditional music, and we sit back here and want to sound more original than the owners of the sound.”

She lamented the negative connotations attached to singing in local languages in Ghana: “Nigerian artistes are leading because they know how to sell their culture. But here, when you even sing in your mother tongue, people describe it as too ‘local’ and ‘colo’, like it’s a bad thing. Until we fully embrace our sound, we’ll keep falling behind.”

While acknowledging the allure of following music trends, Sherifa Gunu advised young artistes to prioritize authenticity over fleeting “fast food” music, urging them to emulate music legends like Osibisa, Amakye Dede, and Angelique Kidjo, whose unique styles have ensured their enduring relevance.

“I don’t and never follow trends, and the result is that my music is timeless. So, I want to entreat our artistes to be themselves as Ghanaians,” she said. “Unfortunately, it appears many of our artistes forget where they come from just to gain quick fame. But look at legends like Osibisa, Amakye Dede, and Angelique Kidjo—they stayed authentic and still made history. If you copy too much, you’ll disappear.”

Sherifa Gunu’s career has seen her rise since placing second in the 1998 Embassy Pleasure dance championship. She has released several albums, including “Salamatu,” “Dagbon,” “Akwaaba Wo Africa,” and “African Woman,” and has received numerous awards for her contribution to Ghanaian music.