Rocky Dawuni | |
|---|---|
 Rocky Dawuni | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Ghana |
| Occupation(s) | Musician and Activist |
| Website | www |
Rocky Dawuni[1] is aGhanaian singer, a four-timeGrammy-nominee,[2][3] songwriter and record producer who performs his signature 'Afro Roots' sound which is a mixture ofReggae,Afrobeats,Highlife andSoul music. He currently lives between Ghana and United States.[4] Rocky is a musician and activist.
Dawuni got acquainted with Reggae in Ghana when he heard a military band performing one ofBob Marley's compositions in Michel Camp;[5] amilitary barracks where he grew up.[4]
Dawuni started the annual "Independence Splash" festival, which is held in Ghana onGhanaian Independence Day, March 6.[4]
Dawuni has recorded eight full-length albums.[4] His sixth studio album titledBranches of The Same Tree was nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Reggae Album in December 2015 for the58th 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 hear 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 which also bears the same title and featured Ghana's 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 byGaudi. His 8th studio release,Voice of Bunbon, Vol. 1 was nominated during theGrammy 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 actorBeau 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 forWoara (which translates as "you or it's you" inTwi) in September 2021. It was sung in the localAkan 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 theBest 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]
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 withStevie Wonder,Peter Gabriel,Bono,Jason Mraz,Janelle Monáe andJohn Legend, among many others. Named one of Africa's Top 10 global stars byCNN.[23]
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 aUnited NationsGoodwill Ambassador for Africa for UN Environment[24] and is a Global Ambassador for the UN Foundation's Clean Cooking Alliance alongside actressJulia Roberts and ChefJosé Andrés.[25][26]
Rocky was named the Global Ambassador for theWorld Day of African and Afrodescendant Culture recognized byUNESCO, 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 |
| Album | Year |
|---|---|
| The Movement | 1996 |
| Crusade | 1998 |
| Awakening | 2001 |
| Book of Changes | 2005[27] |
| Hymns for the Rebel Soul | 2010 |
| Branches of The Same Tree | 2015[28] |
| Beats of Zion | 2019[29] |
| Voice of Bunbon Vol. 1 | 2020 |
 |
| Year | Title | Director | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Walk The Talk | — | [30] |
| 2010 | African Reggae Fever | — | [31] |
| 2010 | Download The Revolution | — | [32] |
| 2015 | Nairobi | — | [33] |
| 2015 | African Thriller | — | [34] |
| 2017 | Shine a Light | — | [35] |
| 2019 | Beats of Zion | — | [36] |
| 2019 | Elevation | — | [37] |
| 2019 | Champion Arise | — | [38] |
| 2022 | Neva Bow Down | Slingshot | [39] |
| 2023 | Shade Tree | Ema Ribeiro | [40] |
| Soundtrack | Movie title | Movie Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Shine a Light[41] | Fist Fight | Comedy |
| 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) |
| 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 Townft. Nana Ama x Shee | FIFA 08 | 2007 |
