A sound connection

Music
Musician Rocky Dawuni brings the sounds of Ghana to Portsmouth

Reggae singer-songwriter Rocky Dawuni divides his time between a successful music career and global humanitarian efforts. The second oldest of eight siblings, Dawuni grew up in Ghana, West Africa — his father was part of a royal family there. Early on, Dawuni was surrounded by his country’s traditional music, as well as the Afrobeat sounds of Nigerian Fela Kuti, African soul, Jamaican reggae, and American funk and soul.

His career took off in 1996 after his first album, “The Movement,” spawned hits in Ghana like “What Goes Around” and “Sugar.” In 2003, Dawuni created Afro Funke’ in Los Angeles, an event dedicated to African music, culture, and art. It’s drawn interest from artists like Prince, Stevie Wonder, India.Arie and Queen Latifah.

Now he’s giving back to his country. He’s the ambassador for the Clean Cooking Forum in Accra, Ghana, hosted by the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, which raises awareness about the health benefits of clean-cooking methods for people in developing countries. His career as a musician means he can share a little bit of Ghana with audiences around the world.

Dawuni’s next stop is Portsmouth, where he and his band will perform at The Music Hall Loft on Saturday, Nov. 21. He recently spoke with The Sound about how his music mirrors his personal views, the Clean Cooking Forum, and growing up in a royal household.

Why are you taking part in the Clean Cooking Forum?
I felt that there was a need for people like myself, who grew up seeing our mother and our sisters cooking and preparing (food) around smoke. In most developing countries, those are the people that are always in the kitchen cooking. We shrugged it off (back then, saying), “No big deal,” … but now, seeing all the data … we took it for granted.

You’ve been called Ghana’s Bob Marley. Do you feel comfortable with that statement?
My opinion is that people are going to call you how they feel. I think that Bob Marley was such a stellar and amazing example of a musician that was able to harvest the power of sound and the power of community and the power of his spirituality that comes with music. If you create oneness, and empower people, regardless of wherever they came from — that’s how I see my work and my music. Our objective is still the same, to really become instruments of creating harmony.

Do you think some aspects of reggae during Bob Marley’s time are still evident?
Yes, I believe so, but I think my sound represents a new vision — more coming from the perspective of Africa sonically, and at the same time, how Africa really has contributed various global sounds that have always influenced our musical styles. You could go to anybody’s music collection and you always see more than one style that they listen to. So we are all creatures of different styles.

When you were growing up, was there always music in your household, in your family?
I come from a traditional royal home — I’m actually with my brother right now, who’s the chief of our people — and we’ve always had music in our family traditionally. In terms of a modern sense, of taking that and bringing it as a contemporary force, I am pretty much the first in my family to be able to do that. It’s really amazing to go back and see all the old traditions … and me (as) the one that has carried the torch in the modern way. It makes me feel good.

In your song “Children of Abraham,” you say, “Children, lay your weapons down.” Can you talk about the song’s message?
“Children of Abraham,” it’s really not an indictment. It’s more trying to point to the branches of the same tree. Because if you look at all the major religions — Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity — they all come from the same foundations of Abraham in the Bible. They’re so divided, and people are fighting each other based upon these same philosophies that share the same foundation. So I try to use a song to make people see the commonality. How can you fight against something that is so a part of you? How can you think something is different when you are a part of it?

Is it difficult to bridge the gap between countries with such different cultures?
I have been sure of my music from the onset. My music is a music of connectivity. It’s contemporary; at the same time, it communicates Africa in a way that everybody can really understand. And I feel that it really touches a basic aspect of what we all are. That is, when you have good music and you have a celebratory atmosphere, it transcends boundaries. So I believe that … all the cultural barriers are gonna melt when the first notes go up. And I think that’s the power of music.

The Music Hall Loft is an intimate venue. How many people will you be sharing the stage with?
We’ll be traveling with a five-piece band, so it will be definitely ideal for the intimate nature of the venue. It’s really gonna be a night to celebrate. I feel that we all have something to celebrate about. When you wake up, and the sun shines at you and you breathe in and you breathe out, and look around and you have loved ones and you have family and friends, it’s a lot to give thanks for. So I think that the concert is really about — and (this is) what my concerts are often about — (is pausing) and looking at what our blessings are. We’re really looking forward to the opportunity to share with the people of New Hampshire.

Rocky Dawuni performs Saturday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. at The Music Hall Loft, 131 Congress St., Portsmouth. Tickets are $22.50, available at themusichall.org or by calling 603-436-2400.