Rocky Dawuni is a Ghanaian reggae artist, born in 1969, known for blending reggae with African musical forms and for linking his work to social and spiritual themes.

Career

He emerges on the African reggae scene in 1996 with his debut recording, The Movement. The album contains the singles “Sugar” and “What Goes Around” and receives strong critical attention in the U.S. “What Goes Around” is licensed by Mesa/Bluemoon Records for release on Strictly Underground: Reggae's Next Generation, and its video reaches number 3 on the Reggae Video Charts.

His second album, Crusade (1998), is written, arranged and produced by Dawuni himself. The record focuses on themes of love, justice and righteousness. Its first single, “In Ghana,” becomes an international hit on radio and television and appears on Putumayo World Music’s Reggae Around the World, alongside tracks by Lucky Dube and Burning Spear.

In 2001 he releases Awakening in Ghana. The album is presented as a call for African unity and receives attention from West Africa Magazine, Billboard, Voice of America and the BBC. The single “I’ll Try” wins him a Ghana Music Award for Best Reggae Song of the Year in 2002, following an earlier win for “In Ghana” in 2000.

His later studio album Book of Changes presents his Afro Roots sound and combines Afro Beat, dub, reggae, hip hop turntablism and traditional African rhythms. The album includes “Wake the Town” and “Shashamane,” while “Wake the Town” gains support from KCRW, BBC World Service and Radio Nova.

Live work and collaborations

Dawuni tours widely in the United States from 1999 onward, including appearances at the Vermont Reggae Festival, UCLA Jazz/Reggae Festival, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, WOMAD USA, Reggae on the River, Bumbershoot, Reggae in the Park, the Detroit World Music Festival and the Fairfax World Music Festival. He also joins the Africa Roots 2000 Tour with Ishmael Isaac and Positive Black Soul.

He performs at the Reebok Humanitarian Awards with Peter Gabriel, opens for Stevie Wonder in Accra, and later appears at an event honouring Jeffrey Sachs hosted by Quincy Jones and Roger Waters.

Independence Splash and social projects

In 2002 he creates the Rocky Dawuni Independence Splash, an annual event in Accra held on 6 March for Ghana’s Independence Day. The event is broadcast on Ghana TV and, in 2007, is presented with Africa Live! in association with UNICEF at La Pleasure Beach to mark the 50th anniversary of Ghana’s independence. That edition features Batman Samini, King Ayisoba and Tic Tac and draws a large crowd.

He also leads a UNICEF-sponsored campaign in northern Ghana focused on clean water, sanitation and hygiene, and records “Clean Water” with Batman Samini for UNICEF’s World Water Day commemoration in 2007.

Media appearances and awards

Dawuni appears on television soundtracks and series including Weeds, Dexter and ER. His recording of “Knockin on Heaven’s Door” is also used on ER.

He is named “Ghana’s Cultural Ambassador” by the US Embassy and the Bokoor Popular African Music Foundation in 2005, and he is nominated by LA Weekly for Best World Music Artist the same year. He also appears on the Amnesty International compilation Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur with a version of John Lennon’s “Well Well Well.”