Rocky Dawuni is a Ghanaian singer, a four-time Grammy-nominee, 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. 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; a military barracks near Accra, Ghana's capital city.
Dawuni started the annual "Independence Splash" festival, which is held in Ghana on Ghanaian Independence Day, March 6.
Dawuni has recorded eight full-length albums. 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, released March 31, 2015 making him the first nominee from his home country of Ghana. Songlines Magazine named the Branches of Same Tree album in the top 10 most essential reggae albums of all time.
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.
Beats of Zion, the 2019 album by Rocky, which was released January 25 is a precursor to his 7th studio album by the same title, and features Ghanaian dancehall star Stonebwoy. The last video for the albums is "Champion Arise", which was named "Top Tune of the Day" on premier National Public Radio Station KCRW.
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", 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.
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.
In 2024, he released a new single called 'Rise'
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.
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.
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 and is a Global Ambassador for the UN Foundation's Clean Cooking Alliance alongside actress Julia Roberts and Chef José Andrés.
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 nameRoleYearAdinkra International Arts & Crafts Festival (GEPA) 2024Brand Ambassador, Speaker & Performer2024African Youth Conference, Accra, GhanaSpeaker2024United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA), Nairobi, KenyaSpeaker/Performer2024COP28 Dubai, UAESpeaker & Performer2023Accra Reparations Conference 2023Performer2023Swiss Embassy Recycling & Upcycling Event, Accra, Ghana 2023Speaker2023Italian Embassy IRENA Action for Climate Event, Accra, Ghana 2023Speaker2023AMCEN Conference, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2023Speaker2023World Environment Day, Abidjan, Cote’Ivoire 2023Performer / Panelist2023International Concert Against Racism, Salvador Bahia, Brazil 2023Performer / Speaker2023Earth Day Beach Clean Up, Ghana 2023Speaker2023International Concert Against Racism, Costa Rica 2023Speaker / Performer2023UNEP Celebration of World Ocean Day, June 2022 (virtual)Speaker2022United Nations Environment Assembly, Nairobi, Kenya March 2022Speaker / Performer2022Launch of Diaspora Flag for Sixth Region of Africa, Accra, Ghana February 2022Speaker2022World Day of African & Afrodescendant Culture, Accra, Ghana January 2022Speaker2022COP26, Scotland, UK October 2021Ambassador2021
Discography
Album Year The Movement 1996 Crusade 1998 Awakening 2001 Book of Changes 2005 Hymns for the Rebel Soul 2010 Branches of The Same Tree 2015 Beats of Zion 2019Voice of Bunbon Vol. 12020
Videography
YearTitleDirectorRef2010Walk The Talk2010African Reggae Fever2010Download The Revolution2015Nairobi2015African Thriller2017Shine a Light2019Beats of Zion2019Elevation2019Champion Arise2022Neva Bow DownSlingshot2023Shade TreeEma Ribeiro Music featured in movies Soundtrack Movie title Movie Genre Shine a Light Fist Fight Comedy
Music featured on television
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
Track EA Games Year African Thriller 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014Reggae Carnival StyleThe Sims 3: Island Paradise2013 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 Official Website Official Youtube Page
References
External links