This is a list of notable Black Canadians, inclusive of multiracial people who are of partially Black African descent.
A Elamin Abdelmahmoud, CBC Radio host Wayne Adams, first Black MLA in Nova Scotia, Liberal Lovell Adams-Gray, actorTamara Shephard, "Second Jen’s multicultural cast resonates with actor Lovell Adams-Gray". Toronto Star, August 2, 2018. Oluniké Adeliyi, actress Alfons Adetuyi, film director and producer Robert Adetuyi, film director and screenwriter Randell Adjei, poet Ohenewa Akuffo, wrestler AHI, singer-songwriter Zanana Akande, former Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and cabinet minister Philip Akin, director Dana Alexander, stand-up comedian Lincoln Alexander, first Black Member of Parliament in Canada, former lieutenant governor of Ontario Toya Alexis, R&B/pop singer and Canadian Idol season 1 finalist Aisha Alfa, actress and comedian Ismaila Alfa, radio host Thom Allison, actor Jean Alfred, first Black Canadian member of the National Assembly of Quebec Lillian Allen, dub poet Archie Alleyne, jazz musician a l l i e, R&B singer David Amber, sportscaster Kanika Ambrose, playwrightAisling Murphy, "Scarborough playwright Kanika Ambrose shines a light on immigration and motherhood". Toronto Star, November 17, 2022. Kimora Amour, drag entertainer Ammoye, reggae singer Prince Amponsah, actorGeoffrey Vendeville, "Actor who lost his arms — and nearly his life — in fire reaches new stage". Toronto Star, June 1, 2016. Aba Amuquandoh, comedianBriony Smith, "Rising star Aba Amuquandoh on the mentors who shaped her path to comedy stardom". Toronto Star, January 31, 2021. Anastarzia Anaquway, drag entertainer Ezzrett Anderson, CFL player Granville Anderson, politician "Hollywood Jade" Anderson, dancer and choreographer Osborne Perry Anderson, resident of the Chatham-Kent area; involved in the raid at Harper's Ferry Ricky Anderson, athlete and writer Shamier Anderson, actor Virnetta Anderson, first Black Canadian city councillor in Calgary Jill Andrew, politician Marie-Joseph Angélique, executed for setting fire to Montreal Dominique Anglade, politician Georges Anglade, academic Vincent Anioke, writer"Perfect Little Angels by Vincent Anioke". CBC Books, March 27, 2024. Joel Anthony, NBA basketball player with the Detroit Pistons Tafari Anthony, rhythm and blues singer Trey Anthony, playwright (Da Kink in My Hair) Aphrose, soul/R&B singer"First Play Live: Aphrose, Element". CBC Music, January 9, 2020. Océane Aqua-Black, drag entertainer Aqyila, rhythm and blues singerDevon Banfield, "Toronto R&B artist Aqyila speaks on her new EP ‘For The Better’". Now, May 23, 2023. Ardn, rapper"'This is my form of therapy': Rapper Ardn shares what fuels his music". CBC Music, November 22, 2024. Faith Arkorful, poet Bromley Armstrong, community activist Christine Armstrong, film editor Tré Armstrong, actress and choreographer Uzoma Asagwara, politician Brandon Ash-Mohammed, stand-up comedian Ryad Assani-Razaki, writer James Atebe, politician Yvonne Atwell, Nova Scotia's first Black female MLA, NDP Jean Augustine, former Member of Parliament, Black Canadian Cabinet Minister, former deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Edem Awumey, writer Malcolm Azania, writer and activist
B B-Kool, rapper Clark Backo, actress Njacko Backo, musician Backxwash, rapper Britta Badour, poet Valérie Bah, writer and filmmakerNicole Thompson, "Valérie Bah wins Amazon Canada First Novel Award for 'Subterrane'". Victoria Times-Colonist, June 6, 2025. Cameron Bailey, film critic and artistic director of the Toronto International Film Festival Donovan Bailey, first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal in the 100 m sprint (1996 Atlanta) Maxine Bailey, executive director of the Canadian Film Centre Andrea Bain, journalist and talk show host (The Goods, The Social) Malia Baker, Botswanan-born actress James Baley, musician and dancerRobert Rowat, "From brimstone to ballroom, musician James Baley prevails to tell a powerful story". CBC Music, March 2, 2022. Tynomi Banks, drag entertainer Barbada de Barbades, drag entertainer Vivian Barbot, Bloc Québécois member of parliament for the riding of Papineau Emery Barnes, first Black Speaker of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly and CFL defensive end Quinton Barnes, R&B/electronica singer Alexis Baro, jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter RJ Barrett, NBA player with the Toronto Raptors Rowan Barrett, former professional basketball player Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, conductorEric Volmers, "Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser's journey from teacher to professional conductor takes him home to the CPO". Calgary Herald, February 8, 2019. Angèle Bassolé-Ouédraogo, poet Frank Baylis, politician Gary Beals, pop singer and Canadian Idol season 1 first runner-up Jacqueline Beaugé-Rosier, writer Kettly Beauregard, politician Maya Annik Bedward, filmmaker Shawn Belle, NHL prospect Frantz Benjamin, Montreal city councillor Anthony Bennett, NBA player (first overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft) Cle Bennett, actor Tyrone Benskin, actor and director; Member of Parliament; national vice president of ACTRA Zahra Bentham, actress Wanda Thomas Bernard, social worker, educator, senator Rima Berns-McGown, politician Lisa Berry, actress Ardon Bess, actor (Trailer Park Boys, King of Kensington) Carrie Best, activist and humanitarian, first black journalist James Calbert Best, diplomat and public servant Margarett Best, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and Cabinet Minister Salome Bey, jazz, blues and gospel singer (US citizen, Canadian permanent resident) Tim Biakabutuka, former NFL player Henry Bibb, author and abolitionist Bertrand Bickersteth, writer Charlie Biddle (Sr.), bassist Sonya Biddle, actress and politician Jully Black, R&B/pop singer Lindsay Blackett, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the province's first Black cabinet minister Shane Book, writer Walter Borden, actor and playwright Boslen, rapper Cory Bowles, actor (Trailer Park Boys) Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, actor George Boyd, playwright D. M. Bradford, poetRyan B. Patrick, "6 Black Canadian writers to watch in 2023". CBC Books, February 2, 2023. Lawrence Ytzhak Braithwaite, dub poet and novelist Dionne Brand, author Fred Brathwaite, NHL goalie Leonard Braithwaite, politician Rella Braithwaite, historian and journalist Wendy Motion Brathwaite, writer and musician Alma Faye Brooks, disco, soul and R&B singer Garnet Brooks, opera singer Phyllis Simmons Brooks, educator Shelton Brooks, popular music and jazz singer, songwriter, and pianist and vaudeville and musical theatre performer who wrote some of the biggest hits of the first third of the 20th century Khalilah Brooks, actress and children's educator Aisha Brown, actress and comedian Divine Brown, R&B/soul singer and musical theatre performer Denham Brown, professional basketball player in Europe Luther Brown, dancer and choreographer Rosemary Brown, British Columbia legislator; first Black woman to run for the leadership of a political party in Canada (the federal New Democratic Party) Measha Brueggergosman, opera singer Kim Brunhuber, journalistic Matthew Bullock, fugitive from the US who became a cause celebre in the 1920s Millicent Burgess, educator Nate Burleson, NFL player Tajon Buchanan, soccer player Sharon Burey, senator
C Dayana Cadeau, professional bodybuilder Cadence Weapon, rapper Madwa-Nika Cadet, politician Daniel Caesar, R&B and soul singer Celina Caesar-Chavannes, politician Shawna Cain, Christian R&B singer Jaime Callica, actor and dancer Morgan Campbell, sportswriter and memoirist Herb Carnegie, star of Quebec professional hockey league Anson Carter, NHL star Rubin Carter, former boxer and activist Jazz Cartier, rapper Demo Cates, musicianGreg Quill, "Canada's blacks win recognition from music world". Toronto Star, November 1, 1985. Mary Anne Chambers, former Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and cabinet minister Myriam J. A. Chancy, writer Keshia Chanté, R&B singer and co-host of BET's 106 & Park Karen Chapman, film and television director David Chariandy, writer Gregory Charles, pop and gospel singer Miryam Charles, filmmakerRadheyan Simonpillai, "Canada’s Rising Screen Stars: Miryam Charles". Now, April 6, 2022. Nuela Charles, singer Tanika Charles, soul and rhythm and blues singer Ajahnis Charley, comedian and television writer Charmaine, rapper Sean Cheesman, dancer and choreographer Ulrick Chérubin, mayor of Amos, Quebec, one of the first black mayors of any city in Quebec Jojo Chintoh, longtime Citytv reporter Ify Chiwetelu, CBC Radio host Choclair, rapper Rae Dawn Chong, actress (The Color Purple) Jillian Christmas, poet Jarvis Church, singer (The Philosopher Kings and solo) and music producer (Nelly Furtado) Clairmont the Second, rapper Austin Clarke, novelist (The Polished Hoe, Growing Up Stupid Under the Union Jack) Cheril N. Clarke, writer George Elliott Clarke, poet and playwright (Whylah Falls, George and Rue) Kevin Clarke, activist and politician Michèle Pearson Clarke, writer Edith Clayton, basket maker Bernadette Clement, mayor of Cornwall, Ontario Sebastian Clovis, Canadian Football League player and HGTV host Tristan Clovis, Canadian Football League player Devon Clunis, chief of Winnipeg Police Service and Canada's first Black Canadian chief of police Caroline Cole, vice-president, Business Development Bank of Canada Desmond Cole, journalist Lucretia Newman Coleman, writer Eleanor Collins, Canadian Jazz Singer, Television Host and Civic Leader. Known as Canada's First Lady of Jazz.https://bcentertainmenthalloffame.com/collins-eleanor Donté Colley, dancer Wayde Compton, poet Marilyn Cooke, filmmaker Anne Cools, Canada's first Black senator Afua Cooper, poet and historian Amanda Cordner, actressAnn Marie Collymore, "Inside The World Of Sort Of With Actress Amanda Cordner". ByBlacks, November 27, 2022. Lisa Michelle Cornelius, actress Michael Coteau, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament Arisa Cox, television personality Deborah Cox, R&B singer Archie Crail, writer Laura Creavalle, professional bodybuilder Roger Cross, actor (24) Alcenya Crowley, educator and activist Vera Cudjoe, actress, producer, and educator; founder of Black Theatre Canada Alvin Curling, Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament and Speaker of the Legislature of Ontario Ayesha Curry, celebrity chef and television personality
D Ola Dada, stand-up comedian Samuel Dalembert, NBA player Trevor Daley, NHL player with the Dallas Stars Jonathan David, soccer player for Juventus FC Alphonso Davies, soccer player for FC Bayern Munich Delos Davis, third Black lawyer in Canada and first black King's Counsel in the UK Hubert Davis, Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker Millie Davis (actress) Rob Davis, former York and Toronto city councillor Nigel Dawes, NHL player with the New York Rangers Desirée Dawson, musician Buddy Daye, former boxer and activist in Nova Scotia Jonathan de Guzman, soccer player Julian De Guzman, soccer player Dwayne De Rosario Tasha de Vasconcelos, model and actress David Defiagbon, boxer Mélanie Demers, dancer and choreographer Simone Denny, house music vocalist Daniel Denton, musician Adebe DeRango-Adem, poetDebra Black, "Adebe DeRango-Adem explores her identity in art and poetry". Toronto Star, February 26, 2016. Viola Desmond, beautician and civil rights activist, first Canadian woman to be depicted on Canadian currency Robert Nathaniel Dett, composer Rita Deverell, broadcaster and journalist, founder of Vision TV Devon, hip-hop musician ("Mr. Metro") Alpha Yaya Diallo, musician Paul Dillett, retired IFBB bodybuilder and businessman George Dixon, first Black world boxing champion in any weight class Fefe Dobson, pop punk singer Shirley Dorismond, politician James Douglas, early governor of Vancouver Island and British Columbia James W. Douglas, British Columbia MLA Orville Lloyd Douglas, poet, writer, and journalist Stan Douglas, installation artist Ed Douglas, film and television sound editor