Dagarti is a slang, not a misrepresentation

Veteran Ghanaian artiste Samini has weighed in on the recent social media debate over the use of the word “Dagarti,” explaining that it is a slang adaptation rather than a misrepresentation of identity.

Speaking on Joy Prime monitored by MyNewsGh, Samini said the term is commonly derived from local pronunciation patterns in the Upper West Region, though it does not reflect the formal ethnic classification.

“To say Dagarti is not a word or it doesn’t exist, one can be given a chance to argue their point out, but that’s not how we’re called,” he said.

He clarified that Dagaba people speak Dagari, while Wala people speak Waale, noting that although the groups are distinct, they all trace their roots to the Upper West.

“My dad is Wala, my mum is Dagari. We’re all from the Upper West region,” Samini explained.

The musician added that cultural identity in Ghana often mirrors linguistic variations rather than rigid labels.

“It’s like speaking Ga and Ga Dangme. It’s the same root, but slightly different,” he said.

Samini also addressed why he publicly embraces his mother’s lineage despite Ghana’s patrilineal traditions.

“If I wanted to lean strictly traditional, I would say Sami Wala,” he noted. “But my mum was my biggest fan when I started. My dad joined later.”