TORONTO, ON – November 15, 2025 — Deeds Magazine announces the premiere of Culture Conversation, an intimate video series that centers the voices of African and diaspora creatives reshaping the culture’s ecosystem worldwide. Launching on the Deeds Studio YouTube channel, the series features candid conversations with five artists who are building careers, challenging industry gatekeeping, and honoring their heritage while forging new creative paths in one of the world's most diverse cities. From fashion styling to Afrofusion music, sound art to radio programming, these creators offer unvarnished perspectives on what it means to thrive as African artists; addressing systemic gaps in infrastructure, the weight of representation, and the drive to create space for the next generation.
We start off in Canada with these creatives:
Tade (SLAWN the cnvct) is a 21-year-old Nigerian fashion stylist based in Toronto. After starting his creative journey in Montreal just a year and a half ago, Tade moved to Toronto where the competitive scene pushed him to refine his craft rapidly. Drawing inspiration from his mother's fashion sense and Nigeria's creative scene, he speaks candidly about the pressure of representing his country while navigating an industry that often undervalues African creativity. "Carrying the weight of being an African creative is not something that's for the weak," he reflects, emphasizing the responsibility he feels toward young creatives back home who see him as proof of what's possible.
Winta is a 35-year-old Eritrean-Canadian sound and installation artist whose work explores themes of diaspora, disconnection, and ancestral memory. Born in Toronto but never having visited Eritrea due to political circumstances, Winta channels her longing for connection into immersive sonic experiences and archival projects. Her creative awakening began with djembe classes at Kensington Market's African Drum Store, where she discovered the primal connection between heartbeat and rhythm. Now, she creates sound baths and installations that honor her parents' sacrifices while inspiring younger Eritrean artists. "Being here and being super disconnected from back home has influenced all the work that I've done," she says, turning displacement into powerful art.
Bouff is an Afrofusion artist whose musical DNA was shaped by growing up surrounded by instruments in Nigeria and the Middle East before relocating to Toronto for university. He speaks frankly about the lack of infrastructure supporting African artists in Toronto; absence of Afrobeats categories on major streaming platforms, internal community dynamics that prevent local artists from receiving the recognition they deserve. "Nobody will save you at the end of the day. The infrastructure is not there. You have to make your own way," he said, emphasizing self-reliance while calling for systemic change.
Sewa is a Nigerian singer-songwriter and guitarist whose creative journey began as a coping mechanism following a family tragedy in 2017. Learning guitar became her path to healing, and music transformed from distraction to calling. After establishing herself in Lagos, she moved to Toronto at her mother's encouragement and found a city that offered more opportunities to express herself authentically. "Being here has given me more opportunities to express myself in more ways than I would have been able to back home," she mentioned, highlighting the grants and financial support structures that make creativity sustainable.
Aysha is a 25-year-old Gambian-Canadian radio host, and music enthusiast who runs Lovers Rotation on CIUT 89.5 FM, a show dedicated to R&B, Afrobeats, and "soft sounds for soft hearts." Born in Toronto and a University of Toronto graduate, Aysha combines her media education with her passion for showcasing African music across the continent. She emphasizes the importance of using her platform to highlight talent from home, noting that "Africa is huge, and there's so much talent coming out of here, but the rest of the world tends to just pick and choose what they want to hear." Her work bridges the duality of living as a first-generation Canadian while staying deeply connected to her Gambian roots.
Culture Conversation doesn't shy away from difficult truths. The series captures the frustration of being overlooked by mainstream institutions, the isolation of being "just from round the way," and the complex dynamics within African communities that sometimes hinder collective progress. Yet it also celebrates resilience, authenticity, and the determination to create pathways for others. These artists share a common thread: the understanding that their work isn't just about personal success, but about representation, legacy, and making space for those who will come after them.
Culture Conversation premieres October 6, 2025, on the Deeds Studio YouTube channel.
Watch the full series and subscribe for more stories: https://www.youtube.com/@DeedsStudio
Media Contact:
Editorial Team
Deeds Magazine
info@deedsmag.com
