“It’s a journey that will take them from my ancestors of the [Afro-Sufi] rituals, then we take them to the Iraqi fusion music,” says frontman Ahmed Moneka of their music. “I give them a chance to sit and listen, to digest the music; but also, [at the] end, let’s celebrate – let’s enjoy.”

Drawing on his Afro-Sufi-Iraqi musical heritage, the frontman leads Moneka Arabic Jazz through African grooves and Arabic folk melodies shaped by funk, soul and jazz.

From identity to performance

Moneka’s connection with music started early. He grew up in an Afro-Sufi family based in the South of Iraq – where music was a connection to the spiritual world.

The musician then attended theatre school in Baghdad. An acting teacher encouraged him to learn the Maqam, the Arabic style of singing.

“When I ended up in Toronto in 2015, I didn’t really speak English,” he recalls of difficulties finding roles as an actor. “So, I needed to find something else in art to share who I am, share my identity.”

His first band was Moskitto Bar – a project initiated by the Toronto-born, French-raised Tangi Ropars. Along with other band members, Moskitto Bar created fusion music – drawing inspiration from different cultures including Ukrainian, Balkan, Iraqi and French Celtic.

Moneka then began developing a project centred on Arabic music and collaborations with other artists – creating Moneka Arabic Jazz. The project also reflects his interest in considering youth experiences.

“I saw the lack of Arabic culture in Toronto at the beginning, and there’s not a lot of Arabic youth playing music,” he says. “Now, we have a lot of amazing Arabic bands in Toronto.”

Moneka’s Toronto-based ensemble brings together musicians from multiple countries. He sees their varied backgrounds as central to how the group functions – creating music that is the “soundtrack of Toronto.”

“We don’t have two [of the same] nationalities in the band, everyone is different,” he says. “And that is Canada – this is Toronto for us.”

Music as expression

Shows often begin with songs tied to Moneka’s Afro-Sufi heritage – drawing on rituals that welcome the audience. Then, the group moves into fusion music, such as Iraqi reggae.

“I acknowledge the room a lot, ‘look around yourself, maybe there’s people you know or people you don’t know, don’t be shy to do eye contact with each other,’” Moneka explains. “Then, at the end, I love [to] make them dance.”

For him, that arc from listening to movement is intentional: the show is designed to move people emotionally – before it moves them physically.

That balance between reflection and release is something Moneka has seen resonate across audiences who can feel the music in different ways. Live performance – including solos – plays a defining role in Moneka Arabic Jazz. The frontman says the ensemble’s work unfolds through collective expression.

“The soundscape – it’s so joyful,” Moneka adds. He recalls a former audience member being surprised that Arabic musicians were playing joyful music. “[They’re] following a lot of the news; [they] don’t know about the culture – we are really joyful people.”

Over the years the band has toured internationally, bringing its music to audiences in Colombia, Chile, Morocco, South Korea and the U.S. Moneka recalls previous audience members dancing and expressing happiness – even in places where audiences may not understand the songs’ language.

“I give a lot of context,” he shares. “I talk a lot between the songs, just to connect the dots and explain what this song is about.”

That shared space, built on live interplay and rhythmic connections, is at the heart of what Moneka Arabic Jazz offers listeners.

“It’s about creating safety [for] each other – with eye contact, with a smile, [and] listening with an open heart,” Moneka says of the music’s humanitarian focus.

For more information on the Chilliwack performance, see www.chilliwackculturalcentre.ca/ccc-event/moneka-arabic-jazz

For more information on the Kitsilano performance, see www.caravanbc.com/events/ahmed-moneka-arabic-jazz-vancouver

For more information on Ahmed Moneka, see www.ahmedmoneka.com