Man found dead in Walton Hills was seasoned drummer, played in ‘Coming 2 America’ film, sister says
WALTON HILLS, Ohio (WJW) – The grieving family of a South Euclid man, who was found shot to death in a quiet neighborhood in Walton Hills on Monday, is sharing their heartbreaking story as they seek justice on behalf of their loved one.
Relatives say playing the drums was the passion of 26-year-old Shemsi “Sanu” Baraka.
After years of practice and study, Sanu became a master Djembe drummer, whose talents were recognized around the world and landed him a role in the 2021 movie sequel “Coming 2 America.”
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Sanu and his family were the driving force behind “African Soul International,” a performing arts company based in Cleveland that celebrates the cultural heritage of West African dance and music.
“All of these rhythms are thousands of years old and they always remain the same, so there’s a lot of studying that goes into that and Sanu was the kind of person who made it look easy. He was just such an amazing performer,” Sanu’s sister, Sesa Bakenra, told FOX 8.
But Sanu’s life ended tragically early Monday morning.
Police in Walton Hills say his body was found in the front yard of a home on Sagamore Road. Investigators say he had been shot several times in the head.
His family was stunned by the devastating news.
“It’s definitely a huge loss and we’re feeling it right now as a family,” his sister said.
Police have not revealed any information about potential suspects or a motive for the slaying, which is the first murder in Walton Hills in more than 50 years.
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Investigators have also not indicated how or why Sanu, who lived in South Euclid, ended up in Walton Hills.
His family has a message for the person who took his life.
“Violence is not the answer. That it says more of a person to have a conversation and come to a conclusion than to pull a trigger,” said Bakenra.
The family has started a GoFundMe page to help Sanu’s younger sisters travel from Gambia to Cleveland for his funeral and to support a program that will provide drum lessons for young Clevelanders, in the hope they can continue his legacy.
“They can literally change the world with that. It’s not just a hobby, it’s not just for fun, it’s informative and it has spiritual powers,” said Bakenra.
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