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'I earned my Grammy nominations through hard work, not connections' – Rocky Dawuni | Pulse Ghana

Dorcas Agambila

<p>Four-time Grammy-nominated Ghanaian artist <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.com.gh/articles/entertainment/music/rocky-dawuni-earns-4th-grammy-nomination-in-67th-edition-2024111914250938708">Rocky Dawuni</a> has addressed misconceptions about his success, attributing his global recognition to dedication and perseverance rather than industry connections.</p>

<p>In an interview on Onua Showtime with Onua TV, Dawuni recounted the challenges he faced as an emerging artist in the U.S., shedding light on the resilience that has defined his career.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.com.gh/articles/entertainment/celebrities/rocky-dawuni-adds-voice-to-fight-against-galamsey-calls-it-a-curse-2024092709252355221">Dawuni</a> revealed how his journey was marked by struggles and the lack of established opportunities for African artists abroad. Rather than yielding to adversity, he chose to forge his own path, establishing Afrofunky, a groundbreaking music club in Los Angeles.</p>

<p>Over a decade, Afrofunky became a vibrant cultural hub, championing African music and hosting legendary figures such as Prince and Stevie Wonder.</p>

<p>Reflecting on his Grammy nominations, <a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.com.gh/articles/entertainment/celebrities/i-have-paved-the-way-for-others-to-bring-home-the-grammy-rocky-dawuni-2024072413151948240">Dawuni</a> emphasised the value of authenticity, hard work, and an unrelenting passion for music.</p>

<blockquote><p>It's not about who you know, but the effort you put into perfecting your craft</p></blockquote>

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<p>His success serves as an inspiration for artists worldwide, particularly those representing Africa on the global stage.</p>

<p><a target="_blank" class="editor-link" href="https://www.pulse.com.gh/articles/entertainment/celebrities/rocky-dawuni-says-filling-o2-arena-not-yardstick-for-artistes-success-2024072412144319276">Rocky Dawuni</a>, has been nominated in 2025 Grammy Awards for the Best Global Music Performance. This is the fourth time Rocky has been nominated in the prestigious award scheme. In 2022, his ‘Voice of Bunbon Vol. 1’ album also got a nomination in the Best Global Music Album category.</p>

<p>It comes after his sixth studio album, ‘Branches of The Same Tree’ was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in December 2015. This year, Rocky has earned a slot in the the Best Global Music Performance category with the song ‘Rise’, jostling with artistes like Angélique Kidjo &amp; Soweto Gospel Choir – Sunlight to My Soul; Arooj Aftab – Raat Ki Rani; Jacob Collier featuring Anoushka Shankar &amp; Varijashree Venugopal – A Rock Somewhere; Masa Takumi Featuring Ron Korb, Noshir Mody &amp; Dale Edward Chung – Kashiraand Sheila E. Featuring Gloria Estefan &amp; Mimy Succar – Bemba Colorá.</p>

Four-time Grammy-nominated Ghanaian artist Rocky Dawuni has revealed that his success is rooted in hard work and perseverance, not industry connections. In an interview on Onua Showtime, he shared the struggles he faced as an emerging artist in the U.S., where opportunities for African musicians were limited.

'I earned my Grammy nominations through hard work, not connections' – Rocky Dawuni

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