Rocky Dawuni, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, was on Thursday, August 30, 2018 designated as the Regional UN Goodwill Ambassador at an evening of celebrations at the end of the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) African Landscape Restoration event at UN Environment headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya.
A celebrated global performer with a decade-long career, Rocky is an avid humanitarian and environmentalist, lending his voice to amplify issues of poverty, environmental degradation, water and sanitation issues and women’s rights.
“There is so much positive energy in Africa and many opportunities to protect and restore the environment across the continent,” Dawuni said. “And music is a powerful force that brings people together and inspires action. I want to work with communities and help them share their successes and encourage them to keep moving forward to make the future brighter for generations to come.”
As a Regional UN Goodwill Ambassador, Rocky is uniquely positioned to generate considerable support and publicity amongst his audience for UN Environment’s messages and goals through engaging, organizing, and leading activities specifically targeted to his audience.
“Dawuni’s eloquence, cultural diplomacy and successful melding of music and activism have led him to become a passionate spokesperson for various global causes,” said Erik Solheim, UN Environment Executive Director. “We are delighted to share the stage with another Goodwill Ambassador, Suzanna Awiyo, who, like Rocky, is a passionate humanitarian and environmentalist,” he added.
Rocky’s infectious grooves and dance-inducing anthems have consistently excited fans across the globe. A galvanising performer, Dawuni has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Bono, Jason Mraz, Janelle Monae and John Legend, among many others. Named one of Africa’s Top 10 global stars by CNN, he has showcased his talent at prestigious venues such as The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
United Nations Goodwill ambassadors volunteer their time, talent and passion to raise awareness of United Nations efforts to improve the lives of billions of people everywhere. Rocky Dawuni joins an illustrious line-up of UN Environment Goodwill Ambassadors including Don Cheadle, Gisele Bundchen and Ellie Goulding.
GLF Nairobi 2018 bought together almost 1,000 policymakers, practitioners, scientists and others to highlight successful approaches to landscape restoration in Africa. Community engagement and partnerships emerged as key elements in promoting more sustainable landscapes across the continent. The event was webcast globally with thousands participating in the digital edition and on social media.
To help support landscape restoration in Africa, Dawuni also announced a crowdfunding initiative by the Global Landscape Forum to support communities whose efforts to repair degraded mangroves, farms and other land were highlighted in the Voices of the Landscape series during the conference.
