Afros Picks: October 2026

Seven artists. Different sounds. One shared commitment to creativity, culture and expression.

This October, Afros Picks celebrates artists who are shaping music on their own terms. From Zimbabwean rhythms and Nigerian Afrobeat to experimental R&B, blues and Canadian hip-hop, these seven selections reflect the range of voices moving music forward.

Some are returning to their roots. Others are questioning the systems around them, revisiting personal histories or introducing traditional sounds to new audiences. Together, they remind us that music is both an expression of where we come from and an invitation to imagine what comes next.

Cadence Weapon

Cadence Weapon Changes the Rhythm

Reclaiming Music, Creativity and Connection in a Digital World

Edmonton-born rapper, author and Polaris Music Prize winner Cadence Weapon continues to challenge how we create, consume and experience music. His 2026 album, Forager, explores musical discovery through live instrumentation and influences drawn from hip-hop's past. Known for blending sharp lyricism with experimental production, Rollie Pemberton has spent two decades carving out his own space in Canadian music while questioning the systems that shape the industry.

His latest book, Ways of Listening, turns that critical eye toward streaming platforms, algorithms and artificial intelligence, asking what happens when technology begins making our listening decisions for us. Pemberton brings these conversations to Calgary on October 16 as part of Wordfest's Imaginairium Festival. From recording studios to literary stages, his work encourages audiences to engage with music more intentionally. For Cadence Weapon, listening is more than entertainment. It is an act of discovery, curiosity and cultural connection.

Cécile Doo-Kingué

Cécile Doo-Kingué Defies Genres

Rooted in Blues, Bridging Cultures Through Music and Story

Cécile Doo-Kingué makes music that refuses to be confined by borders. Born in New York City to Cameroonian parents and based in Montréal, the award-winning guitarist, composer and singer-songwriter brings together blues, soul, jazz, African roots and French chanson. Her sound reflects a life shaped by different cultures, with powerful guitar work and a voice that commands attention.

Beyond her musicianship, Doo-Kingué uses songwriting to explore social justice, identity, vulnerability and the experiences that connect us. She has shared stages with artists including Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N'Dour and the Blind Boys of Alabama, building a career defined by artistic independence. Following a break from touring for health reasons, she is returning to the stage with new material and a fifth studio album planned for spring 2027. For Doo-Kingué, music remains a meeting place where cultures, histories and personal stories can exist together without compromise.

Dawn Richard

Dawn Richard Redefines Her Roots

Rooted in New Orleans, Reimagining the Sound of Tomorrow

Dawn Richard has never been interested in staying inside the lines. On creole culture, she turns toward home, building an album rooted in New Orleans while continuing the genre-blurring experimentation that has defined her independent career. Brass, electronic production, R&B, soul and live instrumentation move together without asking permission, creating a record that feels both deeply personal and expansive.

The album brings Richard's story back to family, memory and the culture that shaped her. There are echoes of generations before her, alongside the futuristic instincts that have always made her work feel ahead of its time. Guests including Big Freedia add to a project that feels distinctly Louisiana without becoming nostalgic. creole culture is less about returning to where Richard started than recognizing how much of that place has travelled with her. For an artist who has spent years resisting easy categorization, home becomes another space to reinvent.

Dominique Fils-Aimé

Dominique Fils-Aimé Finds Her Light

Exploring Freedom, Finding Connection Through Jazz and Soul

Montréal singer-songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimé continues to explore the relationship between music, identity and freedom. A two-time JUNO Award winner, she draws from jazz, soul and blues while creating a sound that feels entirely her own. Her latest album, My World Is The Sun, released in February 2026, marks the second chapter of a new musical trilogy that began with Our Roots Run Deep in 2023.

Throughout her career, Fils-Aimé has approached music as a space for reflection, healing and connection. Inspired by the legacy of Black musical traditions, her work moves beyond nostalgia to explore what those histories mean today. Her 2026 Sunshine World Tour has brought her music to audiences across North America and Europe, building on performances at the Montréal International Jazz Festival and the legendary Blue Note. With My World Is The Sun, Fils-Aimé continues to follow her intuition, creating music that invites listeners to find their own light.

Fantastic Negrito

Fantastic Negrito Rewrites the Blues

Turning Survival, Family History and Reinvention Into Music

Fantastic Negrito has built a career out of second chances. Born Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, the Oakland musician blends blues, soul, funk and rock into music shaped by survival and reinvention. A near-fatal car accident, an unsuccessful major-label debut and years away from the spotlight preceded his breakthrough as the inaugural NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner in 2015. Three Grammy Awards followed, establishing him as one of contemporary blues music's distinctive voices.

His 2024 album, Son of a Broken Man, explored family secrets, his relationship with his father and the complicated inheritance of personal history. In July 2026, he released Alive!, a live album capturing the energy of his performances. Beyond recording and touring, Fantastic Negrito founded Revolution Plantation, an urban farming initiative focused on education and community empowerment. His journey continues to demonstrate how creativity can emerge from life's most difficult chapters, transforming personal experiences into music that connects generations.

The Mbira Renaissance Band

Zimbabwean Rhythms Find New Life

Bringing Zimbabwean Traditions to Canadian Stages and Beyond

Edmonton's Mbira Renaissance Band is celebrating a major milestone after winning Afrobeats Artist of the Year at the 2026 Western Canadian Music Awards. Rooted in Zimbabwean musical traditions, the ensemble blends the distinctive sound of the mbira, a traditional instrument of the Shona people, with contemporary influences ranging from reggae and Afro-jazz to rock and Afro-pop. Their music bridges generations while introducing audiences to the richness of Zimbabwean culture.

Their debut full-length album, Roto, released in 2025, reached number one on CKUA's charts during its first week. Through layered vocals, intricate rhythms and energetic performances, the band explores themes of family, heritage, celebration and community. Their live shows bring traditional compositions and original material together, creating space for cultural exchange and connection. With their Western Canadian Music Award win, the Mbira Renaissance Band continues to demonstrate how African musical traditions can thrive and evolve within Canada's contemporary music landscape.

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

Seun Kuti Keeps the Fire Burning

Carrying Afrobeat Forward Through Music, Resistance and Revolution

Seun Kuti has never separated music from the struggle for change. The Nigerian saxophonist, singer and bandleader continues to build on the legacy of his father, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, while forging his own path with Egypt 80. His forthcoming album, Na Dem, arrives November 6, bringing together the unmistakable rhythms of Afrobeat with a contemporary sound shaped by producer Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective.

For Kuti, music is inseparable from the political and social realities of everyday life. His latest singles, including “Na Dem” featuring Tom Morello and “Problems” featuring Kabaka Pyramid, confront inequality, corruption and the systems that shape society. Beyond the stage, his work with the Movement of the People reflects a commitment to organizing and collective action. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 bring that energy to Toronto's Concert Hall on October 17, reminding audiences that Afrobeat remains a living, evolving force.

Discover more with Afros in Tha City.

Explore the October 2026 issue for more music, arts, culture and conversations with the people shaping our world.