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Host of AFROFEST Africa 2022, Mr. Activated, is an emcee/host/podcaster/ and all around creative currently residing in Toronto. Over the years, he has worked behind the scenes on some of the biggest African events in the city of Toronto. He is the host of “Activated Podcast”, a place where the everyday person is given a chance to tell their story.

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AJ Styles is a professional MC, Artist, grocery store owner and realtor and founder of AS Entertainment. He is known for his stage energy and versatility and has hosted events with  major superstars like Davido, Tekno, Kizz Daniel, Flavour, Timaya, Iyanya, Basket mouth, Bovi, Olamide, Wande Coal, Djames and more.

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Saikou Saho has been a drummer and drum instructor for 25+ years. He facilitates drumming and percussion lessons as well as group workshops for preschool-age children up to senior citizens. When he is not teaching he can be found curating a diverse collection of African instruments and art at his store - African Drums and Art Crafts at Kensington Market.

Resident DJ of the Suya Spot in Toronto, DJ Mike is known for his ability to blend old school and new versions of various genres of African music seamlessly. He has served as DJ at 1000+ local and international events and continues to impress as he finds new ways to collaborate with artists and instrumentalists.

Témi is one of the artists who represented African artists at AFROFEST Africa 2022 in Dar Es Salaam. (Pronounced TayMe), he is an R&B artist born in Nigeria, raised in Toronto, and expanded into the United States market. He won the 2017 African Entertainment Award for “Best Breakout Artist of the Year” and was Nominated as “Breakout Canadian Musician” for Notable Awards in 2018.

Arguably the most prolific and versatile producer and artist in Cameroon today, Salatiel has produced or collaborated on about 60% of Cameroon’s hit songs between 2014 to date. His talent has seen him collaborate on the song “Water” with Beyonce and Pharrell Williams and top Cameroonian artists like Mr. Leo, Daphne, Askia, and Blaise B. Awarded: Best Producer - Urban Jamz Awards 2018 and Best male artist of the year -AFRIMA 2018.

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Solomon Okal (aka DJ FlowMaster) is a Toronto based Entrepreneur, community organiser, entertainment promoter, DJ just to mention a few of the hats he wears. In 2006, he quickly established himself as a household name in the African events scene working with various major event organizers from different African communities. He has witnessed AFROFEST grow into a world class Festival and is always honoured to be part of it.

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A daughter of the Jamaican soil, Danae is a multi-hyphenate who is passionate about multiple issues and still believes a better society is possible. Former CEO of VIBE105 FM and VX3Exchange, she is a change maker, writer, cultural curator, media and business consultant.

HOST (AKA-Bluetooth)

TV Host of Global Access Entertainment Show on AFROGLOBAL TV.

President: Afrocentric Media Inc.

Abeena Samm is one of the artists who represented African artists at AFROFEST Africa 2022 in Dar Es Salaam.

Genres: Acoustic blues, mixed with Reggae and Soul. She enjoys writing her own music and has to date released 7 Independent Singles to Radio Stations and TV stations alike. Samm was nominated for the UMAC (Urban Music Association Canada) for her Song "Cry" and "Walking or Talking" In two Categories - Best New Artist and Best R&B Soul.

Slim Flex (Felix Appiah Korang) is one of the artists who represented African artists at AFROFEST Africa 2019 in Accra. He is one of Toronto’s leading Afro-urban artists, and has been gifting audiences with an unmatched blend of African, Pop, Hip Hop, Dancehall and R&B music for nearly a decade.

Arnaldo "DOLOTHEGIFTED" was one of the artists who represented African artists at AFROFEST Africa 2022 in Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. He has made music across multiple genres including hip hop /Drill and Afrobeats, but he never limits himself in terms of the type of music he creates. With a background in dancing, the performances have their own choreographies and dance elements that enhance the showcase.

Success K is an award winning singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist based in Toronto, Canada. With over 10 years of a creating and performing career he has captivated the music scene with his soulful sounds, melodies, and uniqueness.

(Tribute to Oliver Mtuzudzi)

+263 Band Zimbabwean band consisting of former band members of the late legendary Icon, Oliver Mtukudzi. The band has travelled All around the world as Dr. Olviver Mtukudzi’s backing band, known as the Black Spirits. All the members of the Band members are professionals in their own right and have produced and/or worked with some of the top artists in Zimbabwe.

Pekosse Animation is a Congolese singer and musician who specializes in Congolese Ndombolo, Soukouss and Rumba. He is known for his unique skill of blending traditional Congolese Rhythms with modern sounds. In 1999 he won the award of best new artist with Music Africa and has highlighted many major festivals including AFROFEST, Nuit D’Afrique and Habari Festival.

Image of the late Oliver performing live taken from city-press.news24.com

+263 IS A Zimbabwean band consisting of former band members of the late legendary Icon, Oliver Mtukudzi. The band has traveled All around the world as Dr. Oliver Mtukudzi’s backing band, known as the Black Spirits.

+263 Band Tribute to Oliver Mtukudzi

+263 IS A Zimbabwean band consisting of former band members of the late legendary Icon, Oliver Mtukudzi. The band has traveled All around the world as Dr Olviver Mtukudzi’s backing band, known as the Black Spirits.

The members of +263 are highly talented and experienced musicians that include Munyaradzi Viya also known as Munya Vialy who was the keyboard player for Oliver Mtukudzi also he has his own recording studio that has produced Zimbabwe’s finest musicians these include: Jah Prayzah, Killer T, SulumaniChimbetu, Tocky Vibes, Poptain and more. He is also the founder of Vialy Studios, a recording company.

(Aka TaytVialy) +263 Band

Tatenda Viya, is a multi-talended instrumentalist and music producer who has collaborated with many many musicians who previously worked with MunyaVialy. He played keyboards as well for Dr Oliver Mtukudzi.

+263 Band Tribute to Oliver Mtukudzi

Munyaradzi Mataruse is an accomplished acoustic guitarist who played as a guitarist and backing vocalist in Mtukudzi’s band. He did albums doing his own compositions and he also a multi-talented instrumentalist.

(Tribute to Oliver Mtuzudzi)

Zivanai Masango is also a multi talented instrumentalist and producer, he played lead guitar with Dr Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo and is the first music producer to produce Fungisai Zvakavapanofirts hit album. And he also plays with several other musicians around the world.

+263 Band Tribute to Oliver Mtukudzi

Enock Piroro is an exceptional bassist and backing vocalist who has not only worked with Oliver Mtukudzi but also with Andy Brown, ShingisaiSuluma, and other talented musicians.

Bismark Marni, better known by his entertainment name DJ King Bizzy is the official disc jockey at Toop Lounge and Ricchiericch. He is based in Toronto and started DJing in 2010. King Bizzy is a professional afrobeat, dancehall & soca DJ for events such as weddings, concerts, festivals and in 2017, he won the best DJ in Canada at African Entertainment Awards.

Prince Amine began performing and writing songs in high school. He released his first album, XVIII, on his 18th birthday which created an immediate buzz in the Montreal hip hop scene. He released his second album, HramVybez, less than a year later and it was well-received in the USA as it climbed to #9 on the NACC Hip Hop Chart. In 2020, after two years of hard work with producer PL Cérat, he released his concept-album, Doubted Child, exploring the ups and downs of an upcoming artist. In 2021, Prince challenged himself and dropped a new banger for your speakers every month, exploring hip hop, rap, drill, kompa, and R&B, but as of 2022, he’s been focusing onafrobeatsand his album Afrikan Boywill be releasedon June 2nd, 2023.

Julius Paare Joseph is a POP/ AFROBEAT Singer Songwriter known as Zuba 4000kg. Born in South Sudan, he moved to Kenya in 2013 where he studied Music at the University of Nairobi, specializing in voice. He currently resides in Guelph, Ontario and performs alongside Shine Light Music group in his quest to establish himself as a force in the African Canadian music scene.

With her recent single releases Afro-Beat/Amapiano sound with R&B Fusion songs like "ABRACADABRA" and "SMALL WINS, this Canadian singer has a powerful message to deliver to the world throughout her music and artistry, passionate about connecting with her fans with personal growth, her message is to "Just be" learning to be present and taking things one step and day at a time.

Revboy spent his formative years in Kinaawa - Uganda. During his childhood, he harbored a deep passion for music and singing, which he nurtured through his involvement in the church choir. Revboy's musical career took flight a few years ago when he released his debut single, "Mulala," which was met with an enthusiastic response. Revboy's journey as an artist is a testament to his passion, creativity, and dedication.

Dj Havil is a renowned DJ and Producer based in the GTA. He specializes in Afrobeats, but prides himself on being versatile and catering to any and every audience. What distinguishes him from other DJs is his ability to read and control the crowd. He has worked with Afrobeats trailblazers like Iyanya, Falz, Wande Coal, Tekno, Davido, Flavour etc. Look up @dj_havil on instagram to find updates on the next place he is playing.

Baggotee (BABATUNJI ABDULWAHAB) is an Afro Hip Hop artist from W. Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo State.He left Nigeria for the USA in 2015 with his family and after some years he relocated to Toronto, Canada where he released his first official song titled "Summer Vibe".

Silla (Priscilla Addo), is an Afrobeat and r&b singer-songwriter hailing from the humbling streets of the 4-1-6 Toronto Canada, by way of Ghana West Africa. In October of 2022, Sillla released the hit single “Lonely”, the first release of her upcoming freshman EP to be released in 2023. Silla is one of the top new faces making her imprint in the music game.

Live performances showcase Cloclo’s strong stage presence. He has performed at AFROFEST, Carassauga, and at numerous weddings and personal events have allowed Cloclo’s performance experience to grow. A composer, vocalist, dancer, drummer, and phenomenal stage performer, Claudel possesses the hallmarks for a great artist. He hopes to spread the beauty of this new generation of Congolese music not only to Canada, but to the world.

Canadian-based R&B meets Soft Rock artist, Lauriel Inc, started out as her own creative agency. From music creation, and creative direction, she has done it all. Lauriel Inc. started out writing folk and country tunes on her Ukulele. Her writing comes from her own experiences, mixed in with a little imagination creating a story to really give the listener an experience, something unreal, to let them escape for a while.

Bolia Matundu, professionally known as BM, is a Congolese singer-songwriter-producer. Born in Kinshasa, Congo, at 7 he moved to South London - UK where he joined his church choir at the behest of his father; there, he discovered his passion for music.

Heavily influenced other noteworthy African musicians Werrson, Koffi Olomide, Papa Wemba, it was his then choir director, an extraordinary keyboardist according to BM that left him more fuel than ever to hone in on his craft.

In 2012 BM formed a band with two of his friends, DRT and in 2014 they released their breakthrough self-titled studio single 'Get Mad Now' which featured in a Specsavers advert, UK-wide.

Having evolved as a musician, BM branched off and became a solo artist in 2016, releasing the album titled song 'Ebebi', including top singles like Baloba, Makolongulu, My Wife, and Mamacita hitting over 10M streams worldwide. This led to collaborating and performing with other well known African artists like Eddie Kenzo, Diamond Platnumz, and Davido. Leading BM to tour major cities in America, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Holland, and France.

DJ BIGGY" Full name Berhanselassie Haile was born in Ethiopia, Raised in Addis Abeba, In 1992 Berhan moved to Toronto and started working with many African musicians and dancers in various show like the Ethiopian day Festival, Bana 'y' Africa, the African Dance Festival, The Sudbury Cabaret Africain and the well-known and the biggest African music Festival in the world AFROFEST for the last 25 Years.

Part of the AFROFEST Africa 2022 artists, Amanie Illfated (pronounced: ah-MAH-nee eel-fay-ted) is an award winning South Sudanese born international recording artist, model and writer. Her music consists of thought-provoking multilingual mixed with a dynamic blend of R&B, Afropop, Reggae and Trap, all combined with her signature, clear-toned vocals.

Destiny is a Toronto based crossover band that was formed in 2007. A 3 time winner of the Top Soca Band award in Toronto, TBD is a band that is a force to be reckoned with. Together they create a fusion of music that incorporates genres like; Soca, Reggae R&B, Chutney, Mainstream & Indian.

Donné Roberts is a 2 times JUNO Award Winner and 4 times JUNO Award Nominee singer-songwriter/guitarist and producer. His most recent album “OYA” was nominated for the JUNO Award Global Music Album of the year 2022. Donné is known for his consistently delivering high quality live performances.

Exco Levi has firmly established himself as the country’s premier contemporary reggae artist. He has won Canada’s most prestigious music honour, the Juno Award, an unprecedented five times for Best Reggae Artist from a total of nine nominations. Exco has also received awards for Most Promising New Artist at the Canadian Reggae Music Awards in 2007.

Chameleone's music style is a mixture of Ugandan folk, central African rumba, zouk, and reggae.

Chameleone's career began in 1996 as a DJ at the Missouri night club in Kampala. He became active as a musician in 1998 in Kenya with the Ogopa Deejays, then a Kenyan record label, which released his first single, "Bageya", featuring Kenyan artist Redsan.

Throughout the years he has had record selling albums locally like Mama Mia, Mambo Bado, Jamila, Kipepeo, Bageya, Shida za Dunia, Bayuda, and Njo Karibu. Although his music is popular all over the African continent, the majority of his fans/listeners are mainly from the central part of Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania).

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Intrigued with spinning records and making crowds of people dance, DJ Scar taught himself how to blend and mix tracks of various genres of music. He started in 2000 and from collaborating with multi-dimensional well-known DJs and listening to radio shows he further mastered his craft and became a better DJ and MC, perfectly mixing sounds from the Caribbean and Africa.

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Toronto based artist Singer rapper dancer whose art is inspired by spirituality, honest self reflection on life and relationships. Through a hip hop r&b/soul foundation while focusing on social justice. Challenging societal norms, religious dogma and politics. While a private person, his music has become a medium to process and explore his most challenging relationships, and the deepest most vulnerable parts of himself.

Ona Dema is a singer-songwriter whose music cuts across a variety of genres including pop, fusion, and alternative. Her music reflects her personal experiences and the environmental elements that influence those experiences. Ona Dema grew up listening to greats like Fela and Lagbaja but has been influenced by modern stars like Rihanna, Asa, and Sia; the quartet helped sharpen her musical craft and finesse her skills in vocal delivery, stage showmanship and lyrical writing.

With her beautiful melodies and harmonies, Sofinari pulls in her listeners with relatable and uplifting messages, while occasionally drawing inspiration from her Nigerian and Equatorial Guinean roots. Sofinari has been a featured artist on Breakfast Television on City TV, The Honey Jam Artist Development Program and Genius’s “Co-sign Live”.

GhCALI is a Ghanaian-Canadian musician, video director, and entrepreneur who has achieved remarkable success in the music industry. With humble beginnings in Ghana, he showcased his talent at local events, gaining recognition for his unique voice and catchy songs. Alongside his music career, he excels as a video director, renowned for his visually stunning productions. As an entrepreneur, he founded his own label, supporting emerging artists.

TK Smoothe (Tonderai Kanonge) is the CEO of Moonraiser Ent. He was born in Zimbabwe and is based in Toronto, Canada. Moonraiser Ent has hosted several events in Canada showcasing the diversity in music, arts and dance cultures of Southern Africa. TK Smoothe has now elevated his focus using Moonraiser Ent platform to promote Africa on different festivals like Electric Island Toronto, AFROFEST (the biggest African festival in North America), Batuki Festival, Africa Music Week and other various organizations to present Southern African acts.

Pencil is an up and coming artist, A Jamaican born and raised in St. Thomas, Jamaica and based in Canada. He is an entertainer, a music lover, very versatile in different kinds of music, Dancehall, Reggae, Rap and Hip-hop. He is one of the new artists signed to DreamMakers Entertainment Inc.

Borelson is an award-winning multi-disciplinary artist, creative entrepreneur and wellness advocate based in Toronto whose particular music is mostly hip-hop infused, mixed with other music influences such as afrofusion/afrobeats, jazz, classical music, etc. Borelson has performed in Paris, London, Miami, Austin (SXSW 2018), Ghana (Year Of Return), as well as Montreal and Toronto (Afrofest, Nuit Blanche, Toronto Biennale, Fashion Art Toronto, etc.).

In May 2023, he toured Europe (which included a sold-out show in Paris) to keep building bridges and is dropping new material this summer!

Kirk Diamond is a Juno award winning, singer, songwriter, producer and social activist. Kirk spreads messages of unity, inclusion and love through his music, joined by his band The Movement of Ahryel. Recipient of the 2020 International Vigor Award and 5 x Juno Award Nominee, Kirk was recognized this year for his achievement in music and culture by the City of Brampton where he resides with a park named in his honour. This makes Diamond the only living reggae artist to be honoured with a park. In addition he was recognized as a distinguished alumni by the Dufferin Peel School Board and received The Impact Award for his rich influence in entertainment. Kirk is currently on tour promoting his upcoming album “DREAD” which includes the lead Single “Reggae Party '' which was released on September 15, 2022.