The chit chat I had with Afro Reggae Roots musician Rocky Dawuni turned out to be a lesson imparting wisdom. He is one of the many manifestations that contribute to the positive images of the Afro-centric style.
When GhanaCelebrities.Com asked about his penchant for wearing browns, greens, cream for his stage, video and performance attire, he candidly compared it to a case of favoritism, “they have certain naturalness to them and I gravitate to the earth tone colors.”
I wish I could tell you that he faced a firing squad of complaints from his friends and family for going natural but it would be a tale for a Bollywood film. Even the optimist, Rocky Darwuni’s stance from a young age was that, “[dreadlocks] I felt from the onset, a positive sense, it challenged the mindset that here I am as a musician who is responsible, working hard at my craft and wearing my hair this way is symbolism to make Ghanaians think of dreads in a less critical way; also to not judge a person based on their look and their hair.”
Some of the criticism clearly laid out is our association of unkempt hair to the mentally disturbed, stereotypes of the weed smoking Rasta.
“For me the greatest thing in life is for you to find the space and the freedom to express yourself. To be whatever you want to be at a very young age. Unfortunately in our African environment, there are very strict parameters as to what is socially acceptable and what is socially unacceptable,” said Rocky Darwuni.
When asked on the advice he’d give a person contemplating going the natural hair route he emphatically emphasized the mantra “cleanliness is next to godliness” as a rule.
He furthermore expressed, “you have to see your hair as part of your body so keep it clean, nourish it with natural oils and constantly tend and take care of it. The hair also takes care of you by keeping vibrant alive and growing.
So to answer some of the questions of the readers, you don’t wash dreads with beer and yes you do in fact wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner.
Read Below Excerpts From Our Exclusive Chit Chat With Rocky Dawuni
GhanaCelebrities.Com: Describe the music that you do.
Rocky Dawuni: “AfroRootsReggae is the middle ground or an evolution of reggae music where by its been fused by African rythms and overtly soulful music”
GhanaCelebrities.Com: Congratulations on the 2011 NAACP Image Award “World Music” nomination, we are rooting for you!
Rocky Dawuni: “Being nominated alone is a great recognition and I respect all of the nominees in the category who are true legends. I have had the pleasure of headlining a festival in Vienna, Austria that also featured Angelique Kidjo. At the same time my new album stands on its own and I hope to be able to win it.”
GhanaCelebrities.Com: Describe what motivated you to keep your hair the natural way?
Rocky Dawuni: “I believe in Rasta consciousness, my belief is that Rasta is not a religion. For me I believe that all religions, as long as they uphold a goodness, as long as they promote love as the focal point of that religion, I’m a part of it. God is above religion so every religion is only a path to God. You can find God in Islam, Rastafarianism, Hindu and Traditional African Religion.
As a Rastaman, it had a far more significant meaning than just a style. It is a testament of my faith which is traced to the Nasserites (who did not use perms, drink or cut their hair)…they used their hair in service to God.
I saw my hair as a renunciation and a declaration of all that is right. I had been thinking about it for a while (8 yrs now of growing dreads.) It is a constant reminder of what my purpose was in life to use music as a means to empower and inspire.”
GhanaCelebrities.Com: Do you have any special events coming soon?
Rocky Dawuni: “On March 6th I host my annual Independence Splash festival that this year my whole band and I look forward to celebrate it in Accra. It may mean I will miss attending an award show but since the festival last year had to be postponed, this year it will happen in Ghana.”
Official Website: http://www.rockydawuni.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RockyDawuni
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RockyDawuni
__________________________________________________________________
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j87PUW848Mg
Interviewed By Yaa Kesiwaa On Behalf Of GhanaCelebrities.Com
He rocks
Miyagi he will rock the stage Independence Day in Ghana, should be a good time to go
Thanks yaa you always look after me thanks for the tip you deserve a big hug
All the best, and I will keep bringing you the warm and fuzzy news 🙂 my dear!!!
GC thanks for the interview.
He seems to be a genuine person. I wish you all the best in everything Rocky.
You very welcome B.B, by all accounts I heard about him, I am glad to see the interview confirmed is cool calm collected nature. Yeah Rocky Dawuni is like the next Seal or something who knows, the sky is the limit for him.
I can confirm this to be the truth, he’s like that elder brother you always look up to.
I agree with younon that yaa even when I listing to his music the odds that comes out the way he has inspired allot of people through his music
i only got to knw about rocky a couple of months ago but i m very proud of him. God blessu for living ur passion and also for making gh proud
Nice Madam Social, looks like he just gained a new fan in you, that is always good 🙂
@YAA There are artists who talk a lot about the good things they do or intend doing And there is another category who just do their job without bla, bla, blanand alongside give a helping hand to the needy to me Rocky Dawuni belongs to the second category He hasna quiet personality with a mighty voice and charisma He gets almost any type of crowd cooking when he climbs that stage I watch his documentary and I was like whooow he is more like the Marley of Ghana I was even sold when I learned that He is also a member of Bono’s(U2) Humanitarian Organisation (RED) he also helps in lots of developing projects all over the world not only in Africa where he originates He’s been joined on stage by global legends like Stevie Wonder and Peter Gabriel those artist are legend I mean who wouldn’t wAnt to stand next to Peter Gabriel and Stevie Wonder In Afrika Rocky Dawuni is a jubilated star and has won so many Awards with his music respect for this man he really deserve a standing ovation for all his achievement
Miyagi, glad you mentioned Peter Gabriel, his connection to him alone is a blessing because I have noticed that African artists with international respect from Legends tend to last long. Youssou Ndour of Senegal comes to mind, he actually got his start with P.G and now he sells out arenas, its because of him that we now know about K’Naan. In any case, glad this guy is impacting us all the way he does, I should have asked the meaning of and how he got his name? next time.
Please do ask him yeah thanks
i started ma locs 1week ago.cant wait for it to grow.u rock man infact me feeeli wo
InChristAlone thanks for sharing that, I will try to interview a female star whose going the natural route for you okay 🙂 But glad this will suffice!!!
thnx yaa.i went natural for a year nd decided to loc it dis year.so im new to locs.dat will be wonderful if u can find one for me.