Ahmed Moneka was 24 when he found himself stranded in Toronto. It was 2015 and Moneka was presenting a short film, The Society, at the Toronto International Film Festival.
His father called, telling Ahmed he couldn’t return home to Iraq. His father had been told his son would be killed if he did, due to the film’s storyline of romance between two men.
Moneka didn’t speak English. His entire life and family were in Baghdad, where he was a successful actor, writer, and TV presenter.
He eventually found work under the table in a café and applied for refugee status.
“It was super humbling,” he says.
Fast forward a decade. Moneka is thriving as an actor, writer, musician and activist in Toronto. He has released two albums of his unique blend of Afro Sufi music: jazz, funk and soul rooted in Arabic and African influences.
Ahmed’s second album, released in 2024, Kanzafula, was nominated for a JUNO.
“My music is a mix of who I am,” he says. “I love the ancestry and the roots of my identity. It’s so important. I feel as a human, when we connect to our roots, we become like trees. And then we can give food to this amazing world if we want to.”
His ancestors came to Iraq from Kenya in the seventh century.
“The reason we know is because they kept the music, they kept the rituals that they came with,” he says.
He grew up in an artistic family, surrounded by music, and attended a prestigious theatre school as a teenager.
Moneka found solace using music as a universal language when he couldn’t yet speak English. He started his first band in Canada, Moskitto Bar, with Tangi Ropars of France and Yura Rafalui of Ukraine.
Now he plays in several bands, including Ahmed Moneka Arabic Jazz. His music has evolved since his arrival in Canada.
“At the beginning, I was loud, joyful. I want to rock the city,” he says.
“I want to show everyone that we are not only surviving, we are warm, we are lovable, we are joyful, we are fun,” he laughs. “And that’s what I tried to do. But now I’m getting old, I’m almost 36 now. I’m a Canadian now. I’m a father now. So I feel more grounded.”
Positivity and joy are still a major part of his work, however.
“I love joking. I love uplifting. I’m joyful. I love that. And that is a big part of my show, joy. Joy and energy and harmony and safety. It’s my model to reflect in the show.”
One of his recent major projects has collected many positive reviews. Ahmed collaborated with The Tragically Hip and Michael Rubinoff, the producer of Come From Away, to create a musical, It’s a Good Life if You Don’t Weaken, which debuted this spring and will be on Canadian stages throughout the fall.
Moneka brings his six-piece global group, Ahmed Moneka Arabic Jazz, to Calgary Folk Music Festival and Canmore Folk Music Festival this month. All info can be found on his website.
“Dingi Do” by Ahmed Moneka:
