OKAN
Cuban-born, Toronto-based duo of violinist Elizabeth Rodríguez and percussionist Magdelys Savigne: Santería chants and batá rhythms folded into indie jazz and pop, sung in Spanish and Yoruba. Their album Okantomi won a Juno.
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About OKAN
OKAN is an afro-cuban band from Toronto, ON, formed in 2016.
Elizabeth Rodríguez and Magdelys Savigne both trained in Cuba's conservatory system and both played in Jane Bunnett's Maqueque before leaving that group in 2017 to form OKAN in Toronto. Rodríguez studied violin, Savigne percussion, and the two split the singing. The name comes from the Lucumí word for heart. They work both as a duo and as leaders of a larger combo with session musicians.
Their arrangements start from Afro-Cuban rhythm and folkloric song, then add string writing and jazz harmony, with lyrics moving between Spanish, English and Yoruba. Much of the material deals with leaving Cuba and settling in Canada.
OKAN's debut album, Sombras, came out in 2019 and drew a Juno nomination for World Music Album of the Year. Its follow-up, Espiral, won that award outright in 2021, and their 2023 record, Okantomi, repeated the win in 2024, giving the pair back-to-back Juno recognition for consecutive albums.
Afro-cubanLatin jazzWorld
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Questions about OKAN
Where is OKAN from?
OKAN is from Toronto, ON.
When did OKAN form?
OKAN formed in Toronto in 2016.
What was OKAN's first album?
OKAN's first album was Sombras (2019). The latest is OKANTOMI (2023).
What kind of music does OKAN play?
OKAN plays afro-cuban, latin jazz and world.
What festivals has OKAN played before?
OKAN has played NC Folk Festival 2026.