Ever hear of Arabic jazz? Well, meet Ahmed Moneka. In 2015, the singer, composer, percussionist and actor was forced to seek asylum in Toronto after his life was threatened in his hometown of Baghdad. Ahmed used music to remember his roots. His new album, Kanzafula, celebrates where he came from and bridges the language gap he faced in Canada. His six-piece band, with musicians from five countries, performs what Ahmed calls Afro Sufi music, a blend of jazz and blues with Arabic and African traditions.

www.ahmedmoneka.com