Okavango African Orchestra & Friends

Enjoy the sensational sounds of Okavango African Orchestra & Friends at It's Ok Studio on Saturday November 15, 2025. Joining Okavango for this special concert is the dynamic Queen of South African music and JUNO award winner Lorraine Klaasen, virtuoso tama player Pape Ndiaye, balafon master Adama Daou and accomplished bassist Dally Dominic. DJ Moussa will be spinning between sets. Les Délices de May May catering, winner of the 2025 Jollof Wars, will bring her signature Senegalese cuisine at the concert. Taste the delicious brochettes, jollof rice, samosas and beignets!

Okavango African Orchestra brings together music and instruments of several African cultures to create a new music, harmonizing different tunings, rhythms and timbres. The musicians and instruments of Okavango represent a continuum of traditions and cultures from time immemorial to the present day. 2017 JUNO award winners for their debut self-titled album, 2020 JUNO and Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Africa Without Borders and 2025 winner of the Canadian Folk Music Global Award for their 3rd album Migration. African Orchestra looks ahead on its continuing journey to an “Africa without borders… before the borders were created”.

JUNO award winning Queen of South African music, Lorraine Klaasen is the daughter of the legendary Jazz singer Thandie Klaasen. Lorraine is one of the few South African artists who have preserved the classic sound of Township Music, which continues to be the most distinctive sound to come out of South Africa. Born and raised in Soweto, and now based in London, Ontario, Lorraine has electrified audiences worldwide with her dynamic stage presence and showmanship.

A Malian musician from the city of Mopti, Adama Daou developed his skills in African percussion (djembe, doun-doun, calabash and balafon) by participating in traditional ceremonies during his childhood and through his training at the National Institute of Arts in Bamako. In addition to touring across Europe, Canada and the United States, Adama regularly hosts African percussion & dance classes and workshops.

Pape Ndiaye is an exceptional tama (talking drum) player, one of the emblematic instruments of Senegalese traditional and modern music. He was a percussionist for the Orchestre National de Senegal, one of the most prestigious orchestras attached to the Ministry of Culture. He is a regular performer with Zale Seck, an emblematic figure of Senegalese music based in Montreal.

Dally Dominic is a talented bassist, producer and songwriter in demand due to his talent for performing many genres of traditional and contemporary music. He has performed with Ebo Taylor, Jewel Ackah, Pat Thomas, Kojo Antwi, Tracy Kay, Fethi Nadjem, Mis Blandine, Lorraine Klaasen and his band Gye Nyame, to name a few. Dally has recently formed a group, Rhythm Section, comprised of some of the top players of Ghanaian heritage based in the city.DJ Moussa, born in Côte d’Ivoire, is considered the most versatile DJ in the African community in Toronto. DJ Moussa spins a diverse selection of the latest African music hits and classics. His unique style mixes music genres that include zouglou, coupe decale, makossa, mbalax, rumba, ndombolo, high-life, naija, zouk, kizomba and hip hop.

Okavango African Orchestra gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council, Government of Canada, Batuki Music Society and CIUT 89.5 FM.

Info: DJ Moussa spins a diverse selection of the latest African music hits and classics.

Info: Okavango African Orchestra & Friends will perform 2 sets of music, a journey around the continent of Africa without borders..

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

It's Ok* Studios, 468 Queen Street West, Toronto, Canada

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Get App