Aburi rocks to Rocky Dawuni’s Afro-roots

Twenty-four hours prior, audiences at a jazz festival in Ghana’s capital Accra had received their dose. Tonight’s crowd has had to convene at a recreational park tucked in the mountains of Aburi in the Eastern Region, for the Ghana Export Promotion Authority’s first annual Adinkra International Arts and Crafts Show. Observing his spirited skanking onstage, his dreadlocks bouncing on his shoulders, it is clear that the man is high on his own supply.

Mic in hand and backed by a solid live band, Rocky, a three-time Grammy nominee, is a lion – majestic in charisma and truly, truly unstoppable. Indeed, there are moments throughout this evening when he grins with pride, well aware of how effectively his musical spell is proving. His stagecraft is defined by practised mastery, and his interactions with the crowd flow and are instantly memorable. By ‘Jamming Nation’, the second song tonight, he descends from the stage to join fans in dance.

Rocky’s discography, infused with superior poetry and social consciousness, spans eight albums, commencing with 1996’s The Movement. He is also behind 2020’s EP Voice of Bunbon. The set, lasting about an hour, offers a rich array of Afro-roots music, including Rocky essentials like the reggae-leaning ‘Beautiful People’, ‘Extraordinary Woman’ and ‘In Ghana’, along with highlife gems like ‘Woara’ and ‘Kyenkyen Bi Adi Mewu’, originally performed by Alhaji K Frimpong.

There’s also contemporary Afrobeats in ‘Wickedest Sound’ featuring Stonebwoy, and a rendition of ‘Get Up Stand Up’ by Bob Marley and the Wailers, driven by Fela-esque Afrobeat, complete with pidgin, percussion and brass. Occasionally, he pauses the band to deliver brief speeches advocating patriotism, African unity and women’s empowerment.

“The thing is that music is energy, people will feel what you’re feeling,” Rocky tells me during a brief chat after the show, but only after the crowd clamouring for photos with him disperses. “When I’m on stage, it’s about me getting out of the way and letting that one energy that connects all of us work through me. I’m more of a vessel of communication, and I honour the moment and the reverence of the opportunity to sing to people and they sing back to you, creating a communion that’s based on music. It’s also based on the appreciation of being alive at the moment.”

For him, tonight’s performance is important in how it serves to inspire and uplift everyone, stressing resilience, hope and a focus on what brings people together. There isn’t much of a difference between performing for audiences elsewhere and performing for a home crowd, Rocky says. However, here it’s “effortless because there’s just so much joy to do it here and honour who we are.”

When I enquire about his mid-show exhortations, he highlights music’s capacity to reshape society and improve our collective well-being. “I believe that music can be weaponised positively to spark a constructive mindset,” he adds, making air quotes when saying ‘weaponised’.

“Once we’re in the realm of celebrating together, singing and dancing, there are also messages that, without being preachy, we can share; things I feel are close to my heart and will make our society move forward. We need a conscious, intentional message. For me, that’s what it is all about. It’s about performance, conversation, entertainment and at the same time taking us to a new place of enlightened awareness.”

When you boast a catalogue that spans something like 30 years, choosing which songs to perform on a given night must be taxing. Tonight, Rocky is led by “vibe”. “I wanted to do something that was more Afro and at the same time positive and spiritual. Additionally, “we’re a dancing people”, so that’s also key. Reggae and highlife favourites are also important today, as are Afrobeat fusions.

“It’s about showcasing that sound of our future and now. It’s very important. I choose the songs based on how I feel. And tonight I just wanted to make the heart of Ghana smile.” Well, I speak for everyone at the show tonight when I say, mission accomplished, Rocky.