Focus on creating timeless music, not Grammys - Rocky Dawuni

Three-time Grammy Awards nominee and reggae icon Rocky Dawuni has advised Ghanaian musicians to prioritize their craft over the pursuit of awards like the Grammys.

Speaking in an interview on Hitz FM on September 12, 2024, about the essence of music, Rocky Dawuni urged artistes to focus on creating timeless music rather than chasing accolades.

He highlighted that legendary artistes like Bob Marley and Fela Kuti never won Grammys, yet their music remains influential to this day.

“You're making a timeless piece of art, and beyond all the accolades, it's gonna be judged. You know, Bob Marley and Fela Kuti never won Grammys before. All the people who were nominated at that time, where are they now? So the music is bigger than any kind of award,” he said.

Dawuni stressed that while awards like the Grammys hold value, the focus should be on developing the local creative environment and investing in Highlife music, which is the foundation of Ghanaian music.

“We have to focus more on how do we develop our system, how do we invest in our creative environment. Highlife music is the foundation of our music. When you go around, how many Highlife bands do you see playing out there? How many Highlife do you hear on the radio here? People come to Ghana to experience Highlife, but when you turn on the radio, the playlist is totally different. Foreign! So who is doing who?” he questioned.

He called for a cultural shift to inspire young artistes to integrate their heritage into their creativity, adding that true creativity represents one's identity.

“Let's rise and transform this place. And the Grammy would just be the icing on the cake. Let's inspire our young artistes to be innovative, to be appreciative of their culture, and to integrate their culture and their own identity into their creativity. That's what creativity is for. If you don't use it to represent who you are, then who are you?” he said.

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