Rocky Dawuni | |
---|---|
![]() Rocky Dawuni | |
Background information | |
Born | January 22, 1969 |
Origin | Ghana |
Occupation(s) | Musician and Activist |
Website | www |
Rocky Dawuni (born 22 January 1969) [1] is a Ghanaian singer, a three-time Grammy-nominee, [2] 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 Los Angeles. [3] Rocky is a three-time Grammy nominated musician and activist.
Dawuni got acquainted with Reggae in Ghana when he heard a military band performing one of Bob Marley's compositions in Michel Camp; [4] a military barracks where he grew up. [3] Dawuni started the annual "Independence Splash" festival, which is held in Ghana on Ghanaian Independence Day, March 6. [3]
Dawuni has recorded eight full-length albums. [3] 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, [5] released 31 March 2015 making him the first nominee from his home country of Ghana. [6] Songlines Magazine named the Branches of Same Tree album in the top 10 most essential reggae albums of all time. [7] 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. [8]
Beats of Zion, the 2019 single by Rocky, which was released January 25 [9] is a precursor to his 7th studio album which also bears the same title and featured Ghana's dancehall star, [Stonebwoy]. [10] [11] [12] [13] The last video for the albums is "Champion Arise", which was named "Top Tune of the Day" on premier National Public Radio Station KCRW. [14] [15]
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", [16] 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. [17]
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. [18] [19]
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. [20]
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 [21] and is a Global Ambassador for the UN Foundation's Clean Cooking Alliance alongside actress Julia Roberts and Chef José Andrés. [22] [23]
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 |
Album | Year |
---|---|
The Movement | 1996 |
Crusade | 1998 |
Awakening | 2001 |
Book of Changes | 2005 [24] |
Hymns for the Rebel Soul | 2010 |
Branches of The Same Tree | 2015 [25] |
Beats of Zion | 2019 [26] |
![]() |
Year | Title | Director | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | Walk The Talk | — | [27] |
2010 | African Reggae Fever | — | [28] |
2010 | Download The Reveolution | — | [29] |
2015 | Nairobi | — | [30] |
2015 | African Thriller | — | [31] |
2017 | Shine a Light | — | [32] |
2019 | Beats of Zion | — | [33] |
2019 | Elevation | — | [34] |
2019 | Champion Arise | — | [35] |
2022 | Neva Bow Down | Slingshot | [36] |
Soundtrack | Movie title | Movie Genre |
---|---|---|
Shine a Light [37] | 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. Nana Ama x Shee | FIFA 08 | 2007 |
David Nesta "Ziggy" Marley is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is the son of reggae icon Bob Marley and Rita Marley. He led the family band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers until 2002, with whom he released eight studio albums. After the disbandment, Ziggy launched a successful solo career, releasing eight solo studio albums on his own label, Tuff Gong Worldwide. Ziggy continues his father’s practice of recording and self-releasing all of his music. Marley is an eight-time Grammy Award winner and a Daytime Emmy Award recipient.
The Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1985 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality works in the reggae music genre. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".
Stephen Robert Nesta Marley is a Jamaican-American musician. The son of Bob Marley, Marley is an eight-time Grammy Award winner, three times as a solo artist, twice as a producer of younger brother Damian Marley's Halfway Tree and Welcome to Jamrock albums, and a further three times as a member of his older brother Ziggy Marley's group Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers.
Damian Robert Nesta "Jr. Gong" Marley is a Jamaican DJ, singer, lyricist and rapper. He is the recipient of four Grammy Awards.
Ky-Mani Marley is a Jamaican reggae musician. In 2001, he received a Grammy nomination for his album Many More Roads. He is the only child of reggae musician Bob Marley and Anita Belnavis, a Jamaican table tennis champion.
Julian Ricardo Marley is a British-Jamaican reggae musician, songwriter, producer and humanitarian. He is the son of reggae music icon Bob Marley, and Lucy Pounder. In 2024, he received a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album for his collaboration album with Antaeus, Colors of Royal (2023).
SOJA is an American reggae band based in Arlington, Virginia. Formed in 1997, their music is currently produced under ATO Records. The eight-member band has released a number of singles, albums, and DVDs, including SOJA – Live in Hawaii. Their third full-length album Born in Babylon peaked at number 11 on the Top Heatseekers chart, while their 2012 album Strength to Survive topped the Billboard Reggae Album Chart. The band continues to tour and record new music.
Jepther McClymont OD, better known as Luciano, is a Jamaican second-generation roots reggae singer.
Jah Roots were a reggae band from Springfield, Missouri. The band was active from 2001 to 2009. They released several albums under the independent label GanJah Records, with a local and international following. Jah Roots broke up in 2009. Since then, lead singer Josh Heinrichs has established a successful solo career.
Livingstone Etse Satekla, better known by his stage name Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian Afropop, Afro-dancehall and reggae musician.
Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, better known by his stage name Patoranking, is a Nigerian Afrobeats and reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Ebute Metta community of Lagos, he grew up sharing one room with his parents and five siblings. His modest upbringing and close relationship with his family instilled a drive and determination to create a better future, and led him to music He started his music career doing underground collaborations, with artists such as XProject, Konga, Slam and Reggie Rockstone. He signed a record deal with K-Solo's Igberaga Records in 2010, releasing "Up in D Club" under the outfit. Patoranking became a protégé of Dem Mama Records after collaborating with Timaya on his song "Alubarika". In February 2014, he signed a record deal with Foston Musik and released "Girlie O", a single that put him in the limelight. On 9 February 2015, Patoranking announced on Instagram that he signed a distribution deal with VP Records. on September 28 Patoranking released a song titled Abule which he released ahead of his album scheduled to be released later in 2020. He once said, in 2020 that he once got inspiration for song on a football pitch while playing football.
Fly Rasta is the fifth solo studio album by Jamaican reggae artist Ziggy Marley, released on April 15, 2014, on Ziggy's own label, Tuff Gong Worldwide. The album marked Ziggy's return after the Grammy-winning album Ziggy Marley in Concert.
Vera Hamenoo-Kpeda, better known by her stage name MzVee, is a Ghanaian singer, afropop, dancehall and R&B artiste. Her debut solo album features several hit singles including 'Borkor Borkor, 'Natural Girl' and 'Dancehall Queen'. MzVee was signed to the record label Lynx Entertainment and was the winner of the New Artiste of the Year award at the 2015 Ghana Music Awards. She parted ways with Lynx Entertainment in the year 2019. She is currently a solo artist.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Bob Marley:
Mujahid Ahmed Bello known by his stage name Fancy Gadam, is a Ghanaian afropop, dancehall and reggae musician. In 2017 he won Ghana Music Awards for Best New Artist and in 2020, he was named BestAfrobeat Entertainer at the International Reggae and World Music Awards.
Stony Hill is an album by Jamaican reggae artist Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley. The album was released on July 21, 2017 and went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.
Oral Kwame Ofori, professionally known as Oral Ofori, is a Ghanaian-American award-winning digital media producer and blogger, freelance journalist, entrepreneur, and writer. Born in Tema, he is also the founder of the US-based communication consultancy TheAfricanDream LLC. In February 2018 Ofori took on a language interpretation job as a level II interpreter of the Twi and Ga language with the Fairfax County Public Schools system. In December 2021 Mr. Ofori started work with the Embassy of Ghana, Washington, D.C. as Head of the Customer Relations Office under Ambassador Alima Mahama. In February 2024 Mr Ofori's firm TheAfricanDream LLC partnered the Washington DC government in the United States to provide media for the event dubbed Africa on the Avenue to support local businesses.
Musah Haruna is a Ghanaian Afrobeat and Reggae musician, known by his stagename Friction. Friction is the founder and former leader of the legendary Ghanaian Hiplife Music Group VIP. This group has become one of Ghana's most well known Hiplife music groups, and subject of documentaries such as HomeGrown: Hiplife in Ghana and the book The Hiplife in Ghana: West African Indigenization of Hip-Hop. Friction released two albums with VIP, 'Ye De Aba' and 'Bibi Baa O', and Friction and his group became a nationwide phenomenon. In the year 2000 Friction featured in Ghana's national HIV Campaign song 'Stop AIDS, Love Life' among other Ghanaian music stars such as Reggie Rockstone and Black Prophet.
King Isaac is a Zimbabwean reggae singer, songwriter and a professor of ethnomusicology, now working in administration, at Michigan State University, USA. As a lyricist, his music revolves around love, spirituality, and promotes the pursuit of peaceable living amongst the various peoples of the world. During the singer's first visit to Jamaica in 1998, the name "King Isaac" was bestowed upon him by Joseph “Bragga” Russell, a former aide of Bob Marley at the Bob Marley Museum.