Rocky Dawuni

The Alliance Francaise and the French Embassy in Accra will on Saturday March 6, 2004 present the acclaimed reggae star, Rocky Dawuni in a mega concert dubbed "Independence Splash" at the outdoor theatre located in the premises of Alliance Francaise.

The event, which celebrates Ghana?s Independence Day, was initiated in 2002 by Dawuni and has over the years become one of the most popular musical events to rock the city of Accra during activities marking the Independence of Ghana.

The concert will also mark the birth of Dawuni?s rollicking new sound "Afro Roots", which is a contemporary mix of Afro Beat, Reggae, Hip Hop, Dub, and traditional African Sounds.

Other artistes slated to perfom at the Independence Day bash include the sensational griot Baba Anokera, who has been hailed as the James Brown of Ghana, young star Black Prophet and Hewale Sounds, a contemporary music group based at the International Centre for African Music and Dance, University of Ghana, Legon.

In 2003, Dawuni was nominated for the "Best World Music Awards" in the annual edition of music awards organised by the Los Angeles Times, which takes into account all the musicians plying their trade in Los Angeles (USA).

The nominations were done by thirty seasoned journalists who were given the task of selecting the best music from all the musicians based in Los Angeles.

One of Africa?s fastest rising stars, Dawuni founded the festival in honour of Ghana, the first African nation to attain independence from colonial rule in 1957. Indeed, his song "In Ghana" which is one of the tracks on his 1999 album "Crusade" has become the unofficial national anthem of Ghana.

Dawuni envisions this annual concert evolving around to become the "Sunsplash of Africa" in celebration of Africa?s tremendous contribution to the development of music around the world.

Aquarian Records, Natural Alata Samina, Elike Designs, Makeba Creates, Keba, Sittl Shoes and Gasolla Fashions are sponsoring the concert.