ROCKY DAWUNI

Four-time GRAMMY nominated musician and global activist, Rocky Dawuni, straddles the boundaries between Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S. to create his appealing Afro Roots sound that unites generations and cultures. A galvanizing performer, Dawuni has shared the stage with luminaries including Stevie Wonder, Ozomatli, Alpha Blondy, Kabaka Pyramid, Angelique Kidjo and John Legend, among many others. Named one of Africa's Top 10 global stars by CNN, he has showcased his talent at prestigious venues such as The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center and The Hollywood Bowl.  Rocky is a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment for Africa, and UN Foundation Ambassador for the Clean Cooking Alliance. Through these and other designations he uses his music to shine a light on crucial issues facing humanity cross the globe through live concerts, speaking roles, panels, youth empowerment and more.  Influenced by the soulful beats of Fela Kuti and the positive messages of Bob Marley  - Rocky Dawuni's infectious, sing-along sixth album, Branches of the Same Tree, (Cumbancha) was nominated for a GRAMMY for “Best Reggae Album” (2016) featuring the Afro Dancehall mashup video "African Thriller.”  Branches highlights Dawuni's ability to communicate a universal, uplifting message that crosses borders and reaches out to the hearts of millions. The influential “Songlines Magazine named the album one of the “Top 10 Most Essential Reggae Albums of All Time!”Rocky released a Ghana focused EP “Voice of Bunbon, Vol. 1”  which was nominated for “Best Global Music Album” for the 2022 GRAMMY Awards. Three  beautiful videos were released for the EP including “Ghost Town” shot in Los Angeles, CA by photographer Casey Bridges (son of legendary actor Beau Bridges) which is a poignant tribute to 2020 as well as “Beautiful People” which was shot by rising Ghanaian cinematographer Slinghot in Rocky’s home village of Bunbon, Ghana which explores how “a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude can shift our gaze to recognizing our personal and communal power.” The video for the classic Palmwine Highlife song “Woara” which means “you or it’s you” is sung in the local Akan dialect of Twi. It is a love song that uses its call and response style to express the beauty and triumph of being in love. In a time when divisive rhetoric on the rise and the political climate prefers to build walls over bridges, Rocky’s music is a refreshing message about global unity and a worldview of oneness. 

Rocky released “Neva Bow Down” in 2022 which was nominated for a GRAMMY for “Best Global Music Performance.” In 2023, Rocky collaborated with world renown Jamaican Reggae group, Morgan Heritage on their fabulous track “Afreeca the Future” also featuring Lord Alhajiam of Daara J fame from Senegal. (The song features stunning vocals by the late Peetah Morgan who is now dearly missed by the global Reggae community.) In 2023, Rocky collaborated with Highlife sensation and fellow Ghanaian, Kyekyeku for their track “Africa Till I Die” which received rave reviews around the world and was launched with Pan African Music. That same year, Rocky released a collaborative track with Kweku Flick, a bright young Ghanaian artist from Kumasi, called “Praise” which broke new ground for Afro Reggae / Dancehall music in the motherland. Rocky then released his global roots anthem “Shade Tree” which features a gorgeous video filmed in Brasil and which received an amazing review in RollingStone Brasil!  

Rocky released single “Rise” in late 2024 through AQUARIAN Records / Tuff Gong International accompanied by a stunning video filmed by renowned Ghanaian twin photographers Twinsdntbeg. “Rise” was filmed at the original Tuff Gong Africa studios in Ghana (built by Rita Marley in honor of Bob Marley) which Rocky has now taken over and is rebuilding into a global cultural incubator, recording studio and youth complex currently dubbed The Sankofa Center. “Rise” was nominated for a GRAMMY for “Best Global Music Performance” for the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards.  Rocky recently released “I Got a Song” featuring Cedella Marley (first born daughter of Bob & Rita Marley) in late July 2025,  as well as gorgeous music video for the track shot in Ghana and Miami by Slingshot and Cutino Films. The single has been receiving amazing support around the world as Rocky has been touring heavily all summer in Europe, Ethiopia, United States, Barbados and beyond to support it! 

Rocky currently has three other singles out in late 2025 including the just dropped “They Know” a super exciting collaboration with multiple GRAMMY wining artists Tony Succar (Peru / Japan) Wouter Kellerman (South Africa) and Matt B (USA) creating a brand-new genre of music #AfrobeatSalsa !  Rocky is also featured on the recent “Happiness” single with popular Ghanaian Hip Life artist D-Black. Rocky is also featured on a stunning re-imagining of his classic track “Extraordinary Woman” by the Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine which is truly extraordinary! 

On the home front, Rocky was just named a Diplomat at Large by the Government of Ghana to continue his ongoing promotion of all things Ghanaian to the world!