Rocky Dawuni speaks on Afrobeats, ‘conscious music’ & new single
In an in-depth interview with Oral Ofori of TheAfricanDream.net, legendary Ghanaian musician and three-time Grammy nominee, Rocky Dawuni, shared his thoughts on the rise of Afrobeats as the new face of African music; its commercial success, and the general decline of ‘conscious music’ in African sounds. He also gave a hint on his new single ‘Rise,’ dropping soon.
Dawuni has been a constant voice for ‘conscious music,’ inspiring a model for new generation artists, with a career cutting across decades. The three-time Grammy nominee, is celebrated for his unique ‘Afro Roots’ sound, which creatively blends Reggae, Afrobeats, Highlife, and Soul music.
In his interview, Dawuni emphasized the importance of consciousness in music, citing Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Bob Marley as inspirations. “Music has to have purpose and message,” he said to Ofori, highlighting the need for artists to strike a balance between commercialisation and conscious narrative.
The decline of authentic storytelling in Afrobeats, Dawuni argued, can be attributed to the pressure for commercial success. “The need for commercial success as a key part of defining an artist’s career has made it very difficult for many artists to strike a balance between infusing socially conscious narrative into their music as against simplistic commercial creation.”
However, Dawuni remains optimistic about the future of Afrobeats, urging artists to reclaim their purpose and use their music as a tool for social transformation. “If this becomes a new state of our musical mentality, then that will start transforming the music that we make,” he said.
Discussing his genre, Afro Roots, Dawuni described it as a fusion of Reggae, Afrobeat, Highlife, and Soul, which has evolved through his experiences and collaborations with like-minded producers. “As a producer, I have always been at the helm of defining my own sound, but now another development is working with like-minded producers to offer different perspectives of the sound and its further globalization.”
The legendary musician announced his upcoming single, “Rise,” set for release on August 30, which merges Afro Roots with a conscious message of empowerment. “I feel ‘Rise’ is an answer to all of these conversations about Afro Music,” he said.
In a response to Ofori of TheAfricanDream.net about breaking free from “formulaic constraints,” Dawuni credited his diverse influences, from indigenous ethnic music to popular styles. “When you are a true student of these influences, you find an endless treasure trove of inspirations to constantly innovate.”
“Music has to be a force to inspire hope and build a mindset of resilience against the drift to purely material aspirations,” calling out the need for Afrobeats artists to address socio-cultural issues, and inspire hope.
Over decades, his Afro Roots sounds has gone across Africa, the Caribbean, and the U.S. In that time he has collaborated with legendary artists such as Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Bono, Jason Mraz, Janelle Monáe, and John Legend.
Dawuni’s successful merger of music and activism has led him to become a prominent spokesperson for various global causes. He was appointment as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for Africa, focusing on environmental issues. In this role, he works to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development.
He was also named the Global Ambassador for the World Day of African and Afrodescendant Culture, recognized by UNESCO. Through this platform, he uses his music to shine a light on crucial issues facing global community, and promote cultural understanding.
Looking to the future of African sounds, Dawuni expressed excitement about the endless possibilities for innovation in African music. “I believe that once we can find that intrinsic value that is embedded in our cultural gifts with the ever-evolving available technology, it will spawn a golden age of global music,” he concluded.
Source: TheAfricanDream.net
Abeeb Lekan Sodiq is a Managing Editor & Writer at theafricandream.net. He is as well a Graphics Designer and also known as Arakunrin Lekan.
