Canada’s African diaspora artists refuse to be limited by any genre, instead taking their compound influences and traditional sounds into spaces where soul, R&B, pop and dance tend to dominate. It’s that fusion of sounds and cultures that’s helped them create their own lane, evidenced by megastars like The Weeknd, who grew up surrounded by the sounds of Ethiopian artists like Aster Aweke and Mulatu Astatke—and whose vocal and lyrical style adds those textures to new backdrops. First Gen celebrates similar artists in the African diaspora who bridge cultures and use their hybrid identity to create new sonic fusions—including Canadian artists like Amaal (Somalia), Shay Lia (Djibouti), TOBi (Nigeria), K’naan (Somalia) and more. Captivated by something you’ve heard? Add it to your library.