Rocky Dawuni

Rocky Dawuni was the first Ghanaian nominated for a Grammy, for the 2015 album Branches of the Same Tree, and has collected four nominations in all. He calls his blend of reggae, afrobeats, highlife and soul "Afro Roots".

How it started

He first heard reggae when a military band played a Bob Marley song at Michel Camp, the barracks near Accra. Fela Kuti and Marley remain his main influences. He also founded Independence Splash, a concert held each year on Ghana's Independence Day, 6 March. He divides his time between Ghana and the United States.

Albums and nominations

Branches of the Same Tree, released on 31 March 2015, was shortlisted for Best Reggae Album at the 58th Grammys, and Songlines magazine later put it among the ten most essential reggae albums. Beats of Zion (2019) features Stonebwoy. Voice of Bunbon, Vol. 1, named after his home village, was nominated for Best Global Music Album at the 64th Grammys, and "Neva Bow Down" with Blvk H3ro brought a nomination for Best Global Music Performance. Other releases include "Modern Man" (2019), "Woara" (2021) and "Rise" (2024).

Beyond music

He is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Environment Programme. In September 2025 Ghana's foreign ministry named him one of five envoys for the 2025 Diaspora Summit, an honour that came with a diplomatic passport.