Rocky Dawuni

Rocky Dawuni
Rocky Dawuni in 2025
OccupationsMusician and Activist
Websitewww.rockydawuni.com

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

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 March 31, 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

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

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

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

Year Title Director Ref
2010 Walk The Talk N/a [32]
2010 African Reggae Fever N/a [33]
2010 Download The Revolution N/a [34]
2015 Nairobi N/a [35]
2015 African Thriller N/a [36]
2017 Shine a Light N/a [37]
2019 Beats of Zion N/a [38]
2019 Elevation N/a [39]
2019 Champion Arise N/a [40]
2022 Neva Bow Down Slingshot [41]
2023 Shade Tree Ema Ribeiro [42]
Soundtrack Movie title Movie Genre
Shine a Light[43] 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 Town ft. Shee FIFA 08 2007

References

  1. ^ "Rocky Dawuni music, videos, stats, and photos". Last.fm. May 9, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "as of 2023 Rocky became a three-time Grammy Nominee". theafricandream.net. January 23, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  3. ^ COOMSON, NANA KWESI (November 11, 2024). "Rocky Dawuni earns 4th Grammy nomination in 67th edition". The Ghanaian Chronicle. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "'Ghana's Bob Marley' spreads message of brotherhood". CNN. August 23, 2011. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  5. ^ "Rocky grew up in Michel Camp, Ghana". katc.com. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  6. ^ "Branches of the Same Tree album". iTunes. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  7. ^ Ofori, Oral (December 7, 2015). "Rocky nominated for a Grammy". Theafricandream. theafricandream.net. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  8. ^ "Roots Reggae Albums | The Essential 10". Songlines. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  9. ^ "Rocky Dawuni". Cumbancha. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  10. ^ "2019 single release". TheAfricanDream.net. January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  11. ^ "2019 album". TheAfricanDream.net. March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  12. ^ "Beats of Zion". PopMatters. January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  13. ^ "Beats of Zion album". PopMatters. March 6, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  14. ^ "Rocky Dawuni Aims to Re-energize the Forces of Love and Hope on "Beats of Zion" (premiere), PopMatters". PopMatters. January 22, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  15. ^ "Rocky Dawuni: "Champion Arise" | Today's Top Tune". KCRW. June 30, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  16. ^ "Rocky Dawuni 'Champion Arise' video premiere". Music-News.com. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  17. ^ Rocky Dawuni "Ghost Town", November 19, 2020, retrieved June 28, 2022
  18. ^ Rocky Dawuni "Woara", September 16, 2021, retrieved June 28, 2022
  19. ^ Nwafor (January 22, 2023). "Sheila O fetes Grammy nominees, Tobe Nwigwe, Rocky Dawuni". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  20. ^ Francis-Pitt, K'Shema (January 30, 2023). "Who will win the Grammy for Best Reggae Album?". IrieFm. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  21. ^ Debrah, Ameyaw (August 30, 2024). "ROCKY DAWUNI UNVEILS BRAND NEW SINGLE 'RISE' - AmeyawDebrah.com". Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  22. ^ Rocky Dawuni (August 30, 2024). Rocky Dawuni "Rise". Retrieved October 10, 2024 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ Effah, Evans (September 17, 2025). "Wode Maya, Anita Erskine among five Ghanaians to receive diplomatic passports for African Unity". 3News. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  24. ^ "Wode Maya, Rocky Dawumi, Dentaa, two others granted diplomatic passports". September 17, 2025. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  25. ^ "Rocky featured on CNN". cnn.com. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  26. ^ "UN Goodwill Ambassador". unenvironment.org. November 5, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  27. ^ "Rocky works with Clean Cook Alliance". cleancookingalliance.org. Archived from the original on November 13, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  28. ^ "Rocky Clean Cook Alliance". theafricandream.net. October 4, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  29. ^ "Book of Changes". iTunes. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  30. ^ "Branches of The Same Tree at 58th Grammys". Grammy. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  31. ^ "7th album". TheAfricanDream.net. March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  32. ^ "Walk The Talk video". sonichits.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  33. ^ "African Reggae Fever video". rastafari.tv. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  34. ^ "Download The Revolution video". biafranunity.tv. Archived from the original on February 9, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  35. ^ Mawuli, David (August 22, 2015). "Music Video Rocky Dawuni - Nairobi". Pulse.com.gh. David Mawuli. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  36. ^ "African Thriller video". TheAfricanDream.net. March 31, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  37. ^ "Shine a Light video". www.axs.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  38. ^ "Beats of Zion video". TheAfricanDream.net. January 22, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  39. ^ "Elevation video". RockyDawuni.com. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  40. ^ "Champion Arise video". TheAfricanDream.net. May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  41. ^ "Rocky Dawuni releases 'Neva Bow Down' video ft Blvk H3ro". Ghana Weekend. October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  42. ^ "Shade Tree video". youtube.com. September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  43. ^ "Fist Fight soundtrack". soundtrackmania.net. February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rocky Dawuni.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.