Ghanaian Musician Black Sherif Featured In 2024 BECE Creative Arts Exam

Chinalurumogu EzeJuly 12, 20241 Mins read1k

Ghanaian musician Black Sherif has been included as a subject of study in the 2024 Ghanaian Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), marking a significant acknowledgement of his influence in the creative arts. The exam, a crucial step for students to gain admission into senior high and vocational schools in Ghana, featured the musician in the Creative Arts and Design paper.

One of the questions in Section B, precisely Question 5(c), asked students to “write short notes on any of the following composers, focusing on his hometown, genre of work, one example of his works, and contribution to society.” The options included Ephraim Amu, Agya Koo Nimo, and Black Sherif.

Born Mohammed Ismail Sherif, Black Sherif has become prominent since his debut single ‘First Sermon’ in May 2021. He followed this with ‘Second Sermon’ in July 2021, and it was his hit ‘Kwaku the Traveller’ released in March 2022, that catapulted him to international stardom, reaching Number 1 on both the Ghanaian and Nigerian Apple Music charts. His debut album, ‘The Villain I Never Was,’ released on October 5, 2022, further cemented his status in the music industry.

Black Sherif hails from Konongo-Zongo in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, where he attended Konongo Zongo Islamic Basic School and later Pinamang Educational Complex for his junior high education.

Including Black Sherif in the BECE exam highlights the growing importance of creative arts in the Ghanaian education system. The Creative Arts and Design subject, newly introduced as part of the Common Core Programme (CCP), encompasses design, visual arts, music, dance, and drama, aiming to foster innovation, self-expression, and cultural enrichment among students.