OKAN

Charged with the profound power of their African ancestry. OKAN takes their name from the word for heart in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria. Fusing their Cuban roots with jazz, folk and global rhythms, OKAN delivers songs about immigration, resistance, and joy in Spanish, Yoruba and Spanglish. OKAN is co-led Cuban-born violinist and vocalist Elizabeth Rodriguez and her wife, percussionist and vocalist Magdelys Savigne, both Grammy and Latin-Grammy nominees. Hot off their Tiny Desk NPR Alt Latino debut and a tour supporting Grammy winners Rodrigo y Gabriela, OKAN has collaborated with Bomba Estereo, Lido Pimienta, The Halifax Symphony Orchestra, Hilario Duran and Dayme Arocena. OKAN’s recent release Okantomi was awarded the 2024 Juno Award (the band’s second Juno win) and included in NPR Alt Latino, Le Monde, and CBC Music’s “Best of 2023” lists, garnering critical praise from Songlines UK, Billboard, Pop Matters and JAZZIZ.