If there’s one thing you can trust African women to do, it is shine. It is no different in the Canadian creative space. The African-Canadian women we spotlight today have stood out in spaces where it can be hard to break through, and we heartily celebrate them. Choosing a creative path, as we know, is not the most encouraged choice in society. Regardless of this, these women are creating the much-needed representation little black girls need in Canada. They prove it is possible to be in these creative spaces and excel.
Amaka Umeh: Nigerian-Canadian Actor
Amaka is a Lagos-born, Toronto-based actress taking the theatre world by storm. A graduate of Randolph Academy’s Musical Theatre Performance Program, she has starred in multiple theatrical projects in the city. She played a significant role as a ‘praise singer’ in the stage play “Death and The King’s Horseman.” It ran during the 2022 season at the Stratford Festival. More recently, Amaka stars in the play “Three Sisters” by Soul Pepper Theatre. It runs until the end of March at the Distillery District in Toronto. Simply put, Amaka is fantastic at what she does.
Esi Edugyan: Ghanaian-Canadian Novelist
Esi is a multiple-award winning novelist born in Calgary, Alberta to Ghanaian parents. Her novels, “Half Blood Blues (2011)” and “Washigton Black (2018)” both won the Giller award. The Giller award is a literary award given to a Canadian author of a novel or short story. The award is presented by Scotiabank. She is the first black woman to ever win this award, let alone twice! Her latest release in 2023 is a picture book titled “Garden of Lost Socks.” Esi is doing African-Canadian women proud and we’re rooting hard for her.
A’maal Nuux: Somali-Canadian singer, songwriter
A’maal Nuux is a Somali-Canadian R&B singer and songwriter based in Toronto. Born in Mogadishu, Somalia and emigrating to Canada with her family at 14 years old, A’maal grew up in a household where pursuing music was a Taboo. She has forged her own path, defying the pressures of being a black Muslim woman creating RnB music. At the 2020 JUNO Awards, her EP titled “BlackDove” was nominated for RnB/Soul Record of the year. An amazing achievement. She has a single out this year so far titled “Late to the party” and a feature titled “Lay Down.” A’maal is a blazing star and we eagerly look forward to more from her.
Djamilla Toure: Model, Actress, Entrepreneur
Originally from Côte d’Ivoire, Djamilla is a Montreal-based model and actress. She is also the founder of SAYASPORA, a platform that champions and advocates for representation of African Diasporan women in the media. It believes representation has the power for social change and inspiration. When she isn’t amplifying the voices of African women in the diaspora, Djamilla is growing as a model, working with brands including MAC cosmetics, and CoverGirl. With Djamilla pushing for more African women in the media, the future of African-Canandian women in the creative space is promising.
Chizoba Udeh-Martin: Luzury Couture Fashion Designer
Chizoba is the founder and lead designer of ZOBA MARTIN, a luxury fashion brand based in Toronto. Nigerian-born and a multi-talented artist, Chizoba’s designs are timeless. She has consistently elevated the bar in the Canadian fashion scene, winning multiple awards. She recently appeared on Dragon’s den to pitch her business and received an offer from Wes Hall. She has continued to scale her business and is set to do even bigger things in the fashion space.
Ediri is a multidisciplinary creative who enjoys storytelling through various mediums. She is passionate about writing, photography, and music. When she’s not at school, you will find her creating content for her blog, dancing, or reading an African novel
