Rocky Dawuni
Rocky Dawuni | |
|---|---|
| File:Rocky Dawuni (cropped).jpg Rocky Dawuni in 2025 | |
| Occupations | Musician and Activist |
| Website | www |
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Rocky Dawuni[1] is a Ghanaian singer, a four-time Grammy-nominee,[2][3] songwriter and record producer who performs his signature 'Afro Roots' sound which is a mixture of Reggae, Afrobeats, Highlife and Soul music. He currently lives between Ghana and United States.[4] Rocky is a musician and activist.
Music career
[edit | edit source]Dawuni first heard Reggae music in Ghana when a military band performed one of Bob Marley's compositions in Michel Camp;[5] a military barracks near Accra, Ghana's capital city.[4]
Dawuni started the annual "Independence Splash" festival, which is held in Ghana on Ghanaian Independence Day, March 6.[4]
Dawuni has recorded eight full-length albums.[4] His sixth studio album titled Branches of The Same Tree was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in December 2015 for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards,[6] released 31 March 2015 making him the first nominee from his home country of Ghana.[7] Songlines Magazine named the Branches of Same Tree album in the top 10 most essential reggae albums of all time.[8]
Inspired by the soulful beats of Fela Kuti and Bob Marley, the album highlighted Dawuni's ability to communicate uplifting messages to the ears of millions.[9]
Beats of Zion, the 2019 album by Rocky, which was released January 25[10] is a precursor to his 7th studio album by the same title, and features Ghanaian dancehall star Stonebwoy.[11][12][13][14] The last video for the albums is "Champion Arise", which was named "Top Tune of the Day" on premier National Public Radio Station KCRW.[15][16]
In June 2019 Rocky released the new single "Modern Man", remixed by Gaudi. His 8th studio release, Voice of Bunbon, Vol. 1 was nominated during the Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album in the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, making Rocky a multi-Grammy nominee in 2022. Three music videos were released for the EP including "Ghost Town",[17] which was shot by photographer Casey Bridges (son of actor Beau Bridges). The music video "Beautiful People" from the album was shot in Rocky's home village of Bunbon by Ghanaian cinematographer, Slingshot.
Rocky released the music video for Woara (which translates as "you or it's you" in Twi) in September 2021. It was sung in the local Akan dialect, Twi. Woara is a love song with a call and response style to express the beauty and triumph of being in love.[18]
In 2022, Dawuni got his third Grammy nomination, thus the Best Global Music Performance for his work “Neva Bow Down” featuring Blvk H3ro. He has had two previous nominations in 2015 and 2021.[19][20]
In 2024, he released a new single called 'Rise'[21][22]
Recognition
[edit | edit source]On September 17, 2025, Rocky Dawuni and four other Ghanaians were given diplomatic passports by Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to honor their efforts in promoting Ghana and Africa worldwide.[23][24]
Activism and Goodwill
[edit | edit source]The musician and activist who is known to straddle the boundaries between Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S. to create sounds that unite generations and cultures works to foster global peace. Dawuni has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Bono, Jason Mraz, Janelle Monáe and John Legend, among many others. Named one of Africa's Top 10 global stars by CNN.[25]
Dawuni's stature as a cultural diplomat and successful melding of music and activism have led him to become a spokesperson for various global causes. He is a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Africa for UN Environment[26] and is a Global Ambassador for the UN Foundation's Clean Cooking Alliance alongside actress Julia Roberts and Chef José Andrés.[27][28]
Rocky was named the Global Ambassador for the World Day of African and Afrodescendant Culture recognized by UNESCO, through which he uses his music to shine a light on crucial issues facing humanity across the globe.
| Event name | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Adinkra International Arts & Crafts Festival (GEPA) 2024 | Brand Ambassador, Speaker & Performer | 2024 |
| African Youth Conference, Accra, Ghana | Speaker | 2024 |
| United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA), Nairobi, Kenya | Speaker/Performer | 2024 |
| COP28 Dubai, UAE | Speaker & Performer | 2023 |
| Accra Reparations Conference 2023 | Performer | 2023 |
| Swiss Embassy Recycling & Upcycling Event, Accra, Ghana 2023 | Speaker | 2023 |
| Italian Embassy IRENA Action for Climate Event, Accra, Ghana 2023 | Speaker | 2023 |
| AMCEN Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2023 | Speaker | 2023 |
| World Environment Day, Abidjan, Cote’Ivoire 2023 | Performer / Panelist | 2023 |
| International Concert Against Racism, Salvador Bahia, Brazil 2023 | Performer / Speaker | 2023 |
| Earth Day Beach Clean Up, Ghana 2023 | Speaker | 2023 |
| International Concert Against Racism, Costa Rica 2023 | Speaker / Performer | 2023 |
| UNEP Celebration of World Ocean Day, June 2022 (virtual) | Speaker | 2022 |
| United Nations Environment Assembly, Nairobi, Kenya March 2022 | Speaker / Performer | 2022 |
| Launch of Diaspora Flag for Sixth Region of Africa, Accra, Ghana February 2022 | Speaker | 2022 |
| World Day of African & Afrodescendant Culture, Accra, Ghana January 2022 | Speaker | 2022 |
| COP26, Scotland, UK October 2021 | Ambassador | 2021 |
Discography
[edit | edit source]| Album | Year |
|---|---|
| The Movement | 1996 |
| Crusade | 1998 |
| Awakening | 2001 |
| Book of Changes | 2005[29] |
| Hymns for the Rebel Soul | 2010 |
| Branches of The Same Tree | 2015[30] |
| Beats of Zion | 2019[31] |
| Voice of Bunbon Vol. 1 | 2020 |
Videography
[edit | edit source]| File:Information icon4.svg |
| Year | Title | Director | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Walk The Talk | — | [32] |
| 2010 | African Reggae Fever | — | [33] |
| 2010 | Download The Revolution | — | [34] |
| 2015 | Nairobi | — | [35] |
| 2015 | African Thriller | — | [36] |
| 2017 | Shine a Light | — | [37] |
| 2019 | Beats of Zion | — | [38] |
| 2019 | Elevation | — | [39] |
| 2019 | Champion Arise | — | [40] |
| 2022 | Neva Bow Down | Slingshot | [41] |
| 2023 | Shade Tree | Ema Ribeiro | [42] |
Music featured in movies
[edit | edit source]| Soundtrack | Movie title | Movie Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Shine a Light[43] | Fist Fight | Comedy |
Music featured on television
[edit | edit source]| Track | TV Program | TV Station |
|---|---|---|
| Wake the Town | ER | NBC |
| Jammin Nation | Weeds | Showtime |
| Jah Be For Us | Weeds (TV series) | Showtime |
| Shashemane | ER | NBC |
| Jah Be For Us | Dexter (TV series) | Showtime |
| Knockin on Heaven's Door | ER | NBC |
| Turn it Up | Animal Kingdom | TNT (U.S. TV network) |
| Burn One | Animal Kingdom | TNT (U.S. TV network) |
Music featured on video games
[edit | edit source]| Track | EA Games | Year |
|---|---|---|
| African Thriller | 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil | 2014 |
| Reggae Carnival Style | The Sims 3: Island Paradise | 2013 |
| African Soccer Fever | 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa | 2010 |
| Download the Revolution | FIFA 10 | 2009 |
| The One | The Sims 2: Castaway | 2008 |
| Wake Up the Town ft. Shee | FIFA 08 | 2007 |
External links
[edit | edit source]References
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External links
[edit | edit source]
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