Photography by Ksenija Hotic
In “Rooted Like a Tree,” Moneka shares how the Arabic Maqam traditions of southern Iraq coexist with jazz, funk, reggae, blues, soul and Afro-diasporic rhythms in his evolving musical language. For the Black Iraqi artist, music is more than performance. It is a sacred ritual connecting past, present and future—and a responsibility to the generations on either side of us.
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Curiosity Refresh Workshops creates immersive photography experiences designed to inspire creativity, build community and elevate photographers at every skill level. Through thoughtfully styled shootouts, hands-on workshops and themed events, participants learn, collaborate and create portfolio-worthy images alongside talented models, stylists and industry professionals.
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Photography: Hope Francis
Rooted in Nigeria and rebuilding in Calgary, Cris Kester makes music shaped by rhythm, faith, resilience and the determination to keep moving when life refuses to make things easy.
In “Rooted in Nigeria, Rising in Calgary: Cris Kester Is Still Becoming,” Kimberley Dooshima Jev traces how Kester’s upbringing in Cross River State and northern Nigeria continues to live in his storytelling. Through songs including “Can I Speak?,” “Las Las” and “Colourful,” he creates space for pain without surrendering hope, building an emotional bridge between listeners across cultures and borders.
The profile explores the immigrant experience of beginning again, the challenge of introducing yourself to a new city and the faith required to keep creating when life does not yet resemble what you imagined. Standing between the foundation he built in Nigeria and the life he is creating in Canada, Kester is not choosing between two worlds. He is building from both—and he believes his best is still ahead.
Read the full story at Afros in tha City or in our print publication.
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Photography by Joseph Oluwagbamila
Dotun Popoola was four years old when he first started experimenting with colour and texture, and nine when his father, recognising the seriousness underneath what looked like a child's restlessness, enrolled him in a local art studio for an apprenticeship.
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By Kimberley Dooshima Jev
Decades after Fela Kuti released “Beasts of No Nation,” its confrontation with power, corruption and political authority remains unfinished.
In “No Nation (Ayakata): Ginton and ODUMODUBLVCK Reach Across Generations to Rework Fela Kuti,” Afros in tha City explores how Amsterdam-based producer and guitarist Ginton and Nigerian rapper ODUMODUBLVCK approach an official contemporary reworking created with the involvement of the Fela Kuti Estate.
The story traces the political weight of Fela’s original recording, Ginton’s history of connecting electronic production with global musical traditions, and ODUMODUBLVCK’s continued commitment to his sound, community and principles. Together, they bring different eras of African music into conversation without attempting to replace the work that came before them.
Fela’s era. Ginton’s interpretation. ODUMODUBLVCK’s generation.
Read the full story at Afros in tha City or in our print publication.
Read MoreLong before Killer Mike stepped onto the Calgary Folk Music Festival stage, the voices of The Mighty Midnight Revival travelled across Prince’s Island Park.
In “Sound Before Sight,” Kimberley Dooshima Jev reflects on encountering an artist whose music has accompanied her life—from OutKast and ATL to Run the Jewels and Michael Render’s evolution as an artist, entrepreneur, community leader and public voice.
Blending personal history with reflections from Calgary artist TeaFannie, the story explores how hip hop, gospel, soul and testimony transformed one festival performance into something larger: a meeting place for memory, legacy and community. It is also a reflection on the stories, songs and cultural touchstones that travel across borders and generations until they meet us where we are.
Read “Sound Before Sight” in full at Afros in tha City or in our print publication.
Read MoreThrough Emma Ryan’s lens, the 2026 Calgary Folk Music Festival comes alive in colour, movement & connection. From intimate stage moments to the energy of the crowd, her photographs capture the artists, audiences and shared joy that filled Prince’s Island Park. Explore this visual celebration of live music, community and a summer festival weekend that brought the city together. Photos by Emma Ryan.
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With the release of our July 2026 Summer Omnibus, Afros in tha City brings together seven months of reporting, photography, and storytelling into our most ambitious issue to date.
This special edition revisits some of the people, ideas, and moments that have shaped our editorial journey in 2026, while introducing new voices from across business, fashion, music, arts, and community. From exclusive interviews and cultural commentary to original photography and expanded feature stories, the Summer Omnibus celebrates the people building the future of the African and Caribbean diaspora in Canada and beyond.
Judith Demosthene's story is just the beginning.
As the cover feature, her journey reflects the spirit of this issue—one of resilience, entrepreneurship, and purpose. Inside, readers will also discover exclusive features on Funmi Osatuyi, Adrianne Williams, Afeni, Africa Fashion Week London, Nancy Nixon, Femi Jr., DJ Mr. Skitovich, and much more.
Continue the journey in the Afros in tha City July 2026 Summer Omnibus, available now in digital and print.
Read MoreA new production by Adam Bailey and Onika Henry brings the life of Afeni Shakur to the Toronto Fringe Festival, inviting audiences to rediscover the activist, mother, and revolutionary whose legacy extends far beyond history's headlines.
Read MoreThis August, one of the movement's most influential platforms returns with renewed ambition. Celebrating its sixteenth anniversary, Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) will welcome designers, entrepreneurs, educators, artists and cultural leaders from 17–23 August, 2026 under the theme "Design Beyond Borders."
More than a fashion event, AFWL has evolved into an international meeting place where creativity and commerce intersect, creating opportunities for African brands to reach new audiences while celebrating the richness and diversity of the continent's creative industries.
