Lessons From Sarkodie – Anthony Baidoo

The life of our brother Michael Owusu Addo popularly known as Sarkodie has a lot of valuable lessons to teach this generation. He is one of the most successful musicians Ghana has ever produced. The only Ghanaian to win Best International Act: Africa category at the 2012 BET Awards, he was nominated for the same category in 2014. He has won several awards in Africa as well. Here in Ghana out of 17 nominations he has won 12 of them. This is nothing short of a top notch success in one’s career.

Lesson 1
Sarkodie is a dreamer: He has recounted on several platforms how he used to dream of becoming a legend one day some years back. Until you create a mental picture of the future you desire and relish it you may never receive commensurate passion and drive towards its pursuit. Achievements first start as dreams so dream big dreams because when you dream it might come through.

Lesson 2
Sarkodie is a hardworker: It takes hard work and discipline to win artiste of the year back-to-back. He has said and continues to say that he raps everyday to stay on top of his game. Sark has shown that until we become ‘holics’ in our chosen fields, we may at best lead a mediocre life. As a footballer do you train every day? As a student do you study every day? As an author do you write every day? As a business man do you work on your business every day? As a pastor do you pray and win souls every day? He is a rapperholic so become prayerholic, studyholic, leaderholic, impactholic,servingholic, writerholic, businessholic. Etc. It is not only working hard but also work smart.

Lesson 3
Sarkodie did not allow his current circumstances to limit him: He did not enjoy the luxury of living with both parents like some of us. That alone was enough to kill his self-confidence. Instead of complaining and sitting idle, throwing his alms in despair for not getting help to study to the university level, he took his destiny into his hands. He has shown beyond a doubt that one does not need a university degree to win international awards. He has been resolute in his decision to make it to the top and we can all attest to his today. Nothing can stop a man who is bent on succeeding no matter what. At certain point in his life, there was no decent meal for him to feed on. That also did not dissipate his vision. Today we can confidently say that he is a world acclaimed Professor in rap music. But note that University education is cool, but it is not an end in itself, it is universal education, it should teach you how to create jobs and not how to search for jobs.

Lesson 4

Sarkodie calls himself by the right name: According to him he grew up observing that most of those who were called by the name ‘Sarkodie’ were successful. With his commitment to become successful he decided to adopt that name. What you call yourself is very important in life. I had a course mate at University who usually called himself ‘mad time’, to the dismay of all of us he went insane in the third year, it took the intervention of family members to get him healed. Maybe it was sheer coincidence, but why don’t you be on the safer side to refer to yourself in line with your dreams and aspirations. Words have always been powerful and will always be. Call yourself by the right name.

Lesson 5

Sarkodie is original: He raps in his native language yet his songs are played all over the world. Nigerians dance to his tunes as if they understand him. Recently a video went viral on social media about his song being played in a bar in Germany. We cannot copy the western world and be better than them in what comes natural to them. We must stay original for the western world to learn from us. We are Africans and must take what we have to the outside world not importing all that the outside world has got. Our culture has a lot to teach in governance, arithmetic, business and even law. As an individual you must identify your strengths and weakness and work more at magnifying your strengths. You owe yourself a responsibility of being the best of you not anybody else.

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