By Neil Armstrong
The seventeenth ground of The Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto radiated with pleasure, togetherness and anecdotes when three Black Canadian musicians belted out songs from their repertoire on the final day of Black Historical past Month, February 28.
Julian Taylor, an award-winning singer and JUNO 2025 nominee, hit the well-lit, acoustically designed stage with fellow musicians Kunle, and AHIto ship a night of participating performances with patrons at “Celebrations and Revelations 2025 – We Are Nation” introduced by “culturepreneur”Pleasure Bullen. Sadly, multi-talented artist Tania Pleasure, who was on the invoice, was unwell and couldn’t attend.
Recognized for his soulful mix of folks, rock, and rhythm & blues, Taylor is a flexible and celebrated artist based mostly in Toronto who has earned crucial approval for his deep and profound lyrics, wealthy vocals, and dynamic performances.
A member of the Toronto music scene since his teenage years, he gained recognition as a member of Staggered Crossing earlier than launching a profitable solo profession. His work, together with albums like The Ridge, typically explores themes of id, heritage, and private progress, reflecting his combined Mohawk and West Indian roots.
On Friday, he interwove his songs with narratives concerning the reciprocity of life, humanity and themes of universality, unison and concord.
His newest album, “Pathways,” garnered a 2025 JUNO nomination for Modern Roots Album of the Yr. He’s additionally a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal that’s awarded to those that have made a major and invaluable contribution to Canada or to a selected province, territory, area or group of Canada, or have made an excellent achievement overseas that brings credit score to Canada.
Dubbed the “Afro-People Prince,” Kunle is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. His folks and soul music bridges modern kinds with roots in West African rhythms and tales.
Nigerian-born and at present based mostly in Toronto, Kunle brings collectively his wealthy vocals, guitar tapping, harmonica, and speaking drum, to take audiences into what he phrases “music with no boundaries.”
He was the primary performer of the night and after his set launched Taylor whom he described as his mentor ever since he immigrated to Canada from Nigeria in 2014 and met him.
Ahkinoah Habah Izarh, higher identified by the stage title AHI, is a acutely aware, heartfelt singer-songwriter. He has been a two-time JUNO Award nominee for Modern Roots Album of the Yr, receiving nods on the JUNO Awards of 2019 for his album “In Our Time” and on the JUNO Awards of 2022 for his album “Prospect.”
Bullen’s Black Historical past Month Music Excursions creates “initiatives that affect the lives of excellent Black Canadian artists on the verge of profession greatness.”
“Our mission is to point out Canadians all over the place, the excellence that has at all times existed amongst Black folks. We showcase the work of the musicians and incentivize others by highlighting our achievements in areas that Black persons are not at all times acknowledged, equivalent to in classical music, opera, organ recitals, composing, and, this 12 months, nation music.”
Since 2015, with TD Financial institution as presenting sponsor annually, they’ve shared tales of excellence and achievement with audiences in Halifax, Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto.
“Celebrations and Revelations – We Are Nation” kicked off in Halifax on the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and featured these 4 Black Canadian blues and folks musicians who made a strong assertion that “Black folks have at all times finished nation.”
Highlighting the richness of nation music’s numerous roots, “this system will mix genres collectively to point out that race, because it pertains to genres of music, is irrelevant. Emphasizing nation music, and storytelling, we search to point out audiences, that “we’re nation folks too,” whereas incentivizing rising Black Canadian musicians to protect the legacy of our contributions to nation music,” famous an outline of the live performance. Bullen delivered on this promise.
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