Okan is a Juno Award-winning Canadian Afro-Cuban jazz group, whose core members are Cuban Canadian musicians Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne, both former members of Jane Bunnett's band Maqueque. They perform both as a duo, and as leaders of a larger combo featuring session musicians. Roger Levesque, "Cuban-born Okan explores musical roots in Canada, Cam Neufeld traces Gypsy routes to the Far East". Edmonton Journal, January 16, 2020.
History Rodriguez and Savigne left Maqueque in 2017 to form Okan. They were nominated for World Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2020 for their 2019 debut album Sombras.Melody Lau, "Alessia Cara and Tory Lanez lead the 2020 Juno nominations". CBC Music, January 28, 2019.
They are noted for their 2020 album Espiral, which won the Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2021.Holly Gordon and Andrea Warner, "Here are the 2021 Juno Award winners". CBC Music, June 4, 2021. Their 2023 album, Okantomi, won the same award at the Juno Awards of 2024."Junos 2024: full list of winners". CBC Music, March 23, 2024.
Discography Albums Sombras (2019) Espiral (2020) Okantomi (2023)"Okan Explore Complexities of Cuban Heritage on Powerful ‘Okantomi’". Pop Matters, By Adriane Pontecorvo, 9 November 2023
Extended Play Laberinto (2018)
Singles Luz (2018) Mas Que Nada (2019) Yemaya (Ile Ladde) with Rauzzy Ferrer (2022) Iglú (2023) La Reina Del Norte (2023) Okantomi (2023) Bailando en tu vibra with Ramon Chicharron (2024) + Que 1 Chingx with Boogát (2024)
Appearances AAA with Phosphore (2021) Toadas do Norte with Aline Morales and Anita Graciano (2021) Del Horizonte with Boogát (2024) Niebla with Ramon Chicharron (2024)
References