Rocky Dawuni is a four-time GRAMMY nominated singer, songwriter, producer and activist whose unique “Afro Roots” sound straddles the boundaries between Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S. Rocky is a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment for Africa and an official Cultural Diplomat of Ghana. Through these and other designations he uses his music to shine a light on crucial issues facing humanity cross the globe with live concerts, speaking roles, panels, youth empowerment and much more. With 8 solo albums under his name, Rocky’s music is a refreshing and powerful message about global unity and a worldview of oneness.
Revolutionary Afro Roots musician and global activist, Rocky Dawuni, straddles the boundaries between Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S. to create his signature Afro Roots sound that unites generations and cultures. A galvanizing performer, the 4x GRAMMY Nominated Dawuni has shared the stage with luminaries including Stevie Wonder, Ozomatli, Alpha Blondy and Angelique Kidjo, among many others. Named one of Africa's Top 10 global stars by CNN, he has showcased his talent at prestigious venues around the globe. Rocky is a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment for Africa and an official Cultural Envjoy for the country of Ghana. Through these and other designations including his own Rocky Dawuni Foundation, he uses his music and activism to shine a light on crucial issues facing humanity cross the globe through live concerts, speaking roles, panels, youth empowerment and much more.
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 four singles out in 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 ! “They Know” debuted on August 29th with the music video coming soon having just been filmed in Miami. Rocky is also featured on the new “Happiness” single with super popular Ghanaian Hip Life artist D-Black which is climbing up the charts in Ghana and beyond! Rocky is featured on a re-imagined version of his song “Extraordinary Woman” with 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!
Africa is truly rising!
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Rocky Dawuni Recent Music Videos:
Rocky Dawuni “I Got A Song”
https://youtu.be/M9N_mDy1UIY?feature=shared
Rocky Dawuni “Rise”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yODw0Ep2Cag
Rocky Dawuni “Shade Tree”
https://youtu.be/eXiZXFNT6QM?feature=shared
Rocky Dawuni & Kweku Flick “Praise”
https://youtu.be/1GigO2DJ6Go?si=CzTaRhxnq67H1nC7
Rocky Dawuni & Kyekyeku “Africa Till I Die”
https://youtu.be/NgLIpBfiFeI
Rocky Dawuni “Beats of Zion”
https://youtu.be/gWNpphv-7rk
Rocky Dawuni “Wickedest Sound” featuring Stonebwoy
https://youtu.be/DiDtpnlHVXk
Rocky Dawuni “Neva Bow Down” featuring Blvk H3ro
Rocky Dawuni "Shine a Light"
https://youtu.be/6Kt9V9G_sOw
Rocky Dawuni “Beautiful People”
https://youtu.be/Upb7bjyZJeA
Rocky Dawuni “Ghost Town”
https://youtu.be/WIGe4-YjWWQ
Rocky Dawuni Press Quotes:
“Sometimes you don’t know what you’ve been craving ‘til it’s served up on your plate....Shade Tree is a buffet of meaningful and joyful influences, crowned by an inspiring message to set the tone for a weekend of coming together." - KCRW
“Africa Till I die” is a musical success. It blends the native sound of Ghana, itself the product of a melting pot, with reggae born in Jamaica and claiming its African roots. The highlife rhythm has been slowed down and, by letting the bass flourish, the organ and the horns place their punctuations, offers a perfect backdrop for the reggae vocals, without even a skank guitar. This is the finest demonstration of a successful encounter, and it could only take place in Africa.” Pan African Music
“The antithesis of divisiveness, Rocky Dawuni is Africa’s answer to James Brown with the energy of Michael Jackson, the charisma of Prince, and the attitude of Jackie Wilson. The message? A resounding clarion call that we are all one. “Nippertown Review
“Neva Bow Down is a defiant rebel anthem well suited to boost morale in a troubled time.” Afropop Worldwide
“Rocky is the next generation of Afro-beat, voicing the concerns of the voiceless with a great African, Jamaican and American orchestra of musicians forging a new sound with him in compositions that reflect both the past and a path to inform the future. “ Reggaeville
“The unspoken guarantee with any Rocky Dawuni song is that it will take you higher, that it will move your heart and body in equal measure.” Pop Matters
“African reggae star Rocky Dawuni continues to demonstrate he’s one of the most exciting artists coming out of Africa. His style goes beyond traditional roots reggae by incorporating other genres such as highlife, ear friendly Afropop, seductive global beats and more.” World Music Central
“Rocky Dawuni delighted LA music lovers who came from all points of our city to see and hear him perform during Skirball’s marquee SUNSET CONCERT series. His extraordinary musicianship is matched by a compassion and life-affirming commitment to humanity where kindness and joy organically commingle.”- Marlene Braga, Vice-President of Public Programs, Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles
Rocky Dawuni Links:
EPK: http://www.sonicbids.com/rockydawuni
Video EPK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZvqFVscwAg
Rocky Dawuni Website & Social Media Links:
https://linktr.ee/rockydawunimusic
http://www.rockydawuni.com
http://www.youtube.com/rockydawunimusic
http://www.facebook.com/rockydawuni
http://www.instagram.com/rockydawuni
http://www.twitter.com/rockydawuni
Rocky Dawuni LIVE Band Performances:
Rocky Dawuni LIVE at “Afro Funke’ 20th Anniversary” at Grand Performances (LA)
https://youtu.be/RCpzh1iJo9g?si=d_ll1VtwdzOqia4q
Rocky Dawuni LIVE at Zen Gardens (Ghana)
https://youtu.be/_4i7eiVjUYY
Rocky Dawuni Live at LEAF Festival (US)
https://youtu.be/Qccq7AYMDiM
Rocky Dawuni LIVE at Envision Festival (Costa Rica)
https://youtu.be/q3gq-aQenDk?si=t_imi5JL93myOgwy
Rocky Dawuni LIVE in +233 Jazz Bar & Grill (Ghana)
https://youtu.be/_4i7eiVjUYY?si=bxSU_qaYniSo0jdK
Rocky Dawuni Live on KCRW (US)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNhEgvrMPsU
Cary Sullivan
afrofunke@yahoo.com
Cell: +1.310.663.7227
Contact us for Booking and Speaking Engagements.
Cary Sullivan
afrofunke@yahoo.com
Cell: +1.310.663.7227
P.O. Box 1510
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272