Note: this concert is being held at cSPACE Marda Loop (formerly cSPACE King Edward). The address is 1721 29 Avenue Southwest Calgary, AB T2T 6T7.
OKAN fuses Afro-Cuban roots with jazz, folk and global rhythms in songs about immigration courage and love. This women-led ensemble takes its name from the word for heart in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria. Winner of the 2021 JUNO award for World Music Album of the Year, OKAN expresses its rich Cuban roots with confidence and creativity under the leadership Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Elizabeth Rodriguez is a classically-trained violinist who served as concertmaster for Havana’s Youth Orchestra. Magdelys Savigne hails from Santiago de Cuba and graduated with honours in orchestral percussion from Havana’s University of the Arts. Both are also Grammy-nominees for their contributions to Jane Bunnett and Maqueque, of which they are former members.
