Manitoba Music
Manitoba Music and WAG-Qaumajuq Celebrate Black History Month with Concert & Mixer
Len Bowen, Laurel Chanté, DJ ALTAY to Perform Free Event at WAG-Qaumajuq on February 28, Manitoba Music to Present Workshop with CBC’s Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe and Odario Williams
February is Black History Month, and to celebrate, Manitoba Music and WAG-Qaumajuq are sharing a night of music presented through BPM | Black Professionals in Music on February 28.
Presented in partnership with Black History Manitoba, the special event will feature performances from three acclaimed Winnipeg-based artists: hip hop artist Len Bowen, R&B/Afro/pop artist Laurel Chanté, and DJ ALTAY. The intimate setting allows the artists to express themselves through stripped-down, visceral performances that address identity and community, and celebrate the African Diaspora.
For this edition, host/producer/programmer Angeline Tetteh-Wahoe of CBC’s The Block and musician and broadcaster Odario Williams of CBC Afterdark will make their way from Toronto to host the concert.
A partnership between Manitoba Music and Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)-Qaumajuq, the series celebrates Black music makers through quarterly free concerts and mixers in the iconic gallery through the BPM | Black Professionals in Music program at Manitoba Music. The project was made possible by the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters, The Manitoba Government, and Manitoba Film & Music.
There'll be a mixer throughout the night for Black music makers as well as local music companies, labels, venues, and festivals looking to make deeper connections with the Black music community in Manitoba. Meetups for artists and music entrepreneurs are core to BPM’s community-building focus, offering an opportunity to share ideas, professional needs, and barriers, and make vital career connections.
BPM’s programming will expand to include critical training opportunities in the afternoon following the WAG-Qaumajuq events. For this edition, Tetteh-Wahoe and Williams will explore crafting your media identity in the special Own Your Voice workshop on March 1, 2 - 4 PM at the Manitoba Music office. The session is free with pre-registration via 3Common required. Most recently, BPM programming included sessions on artist management, music law, and music supervision, and the three-day event BPM X CCFM songcamp. Creating new avenues for specialized professional development is a key component of BPM planning.
About the Artists / Mentors / Coordinator
Len Bowen is a Canadian Hip Hop/ Rap artist based In Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada – a city with a robust but often overlooked Hip Hop music scene. Noted as a respected artists in his community, he has garnered praise by artists such as Jadakiss, 5ft of Black Moon, and DNA. A skilled lyricist, Len has delivered a catalogue of music ranging from honest and thought-provoking meditations, to fierce battle-ready lyrics. Often called upon by peers to uplift songs with his verses, he has collaborated with artists such Shad K, JRDN, and Asun Eastwood.
A founding member of the Western Canadian Music Award nominated hip hop collective Shadez, Len has pursued the path of a solo artist with growing success at every step including a feature on the Jadakiss curated mixtape Who Really Got Barz, a collaboration with Wisconsin based poet Charles Payne for Connecting Perspectives: A Cross-border Art Initiative, and the successful release of several EPs including 2020's Flow Nostalgic, 2021’s Flow Nostalgic 2 (Good Years), 2022 Years In the Making, and 2023's NTHN4GRNTD.
Confident and hungry, Len is ready for worldwide recognition and to be listed among hip hop’s elite with the release of his new project dropping summer of 2025.
Born in Spain, raised in Winnipeg, and proudly Nigerian, Laurel Chanté is a fearless artist blending R&B, Pop, Hip-Hop, and Afrobeat into a unique and evolving sound. Writing music since the age of nine, they found early inspiration in legends like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Chris Brown and Demi Lovato using music as both an escape and a powerful form of self-expression.
Never one to stay in a box, Chanté constantly pushes past her comfort zone, experimenting with new styles and expanding their artistic reach. About just over a year ago, she embraced her Afrobeat roots, releasing her debut Afrobeat single, Kilonshele, marking an exciting new chapter in their journey. Influenced by artists like Kiana Ledé, Lauryn Hill, No Name, SZA, Ayra Star, H.E.R. and of course Beyoncé, she fuses smooth R&B melodies, raw storytelling, and rhythmic Afro influences to create music that resonates deeply.
With relentless determination and an ever-growing artistic vision, Laurel Chanté is carving out a space that is uniquely her own. Whether through soul-stirring ballads, Afro-infused bangers, or unexpected genre fusions, she is committed to making music that resonates, inspires, and breaks boundaries.
The Sound Architect of Afrobeats, Amapiano & Beyond
Seamlessly blending the rhythms of Afrobeat, Amapiano, Dancehall, Hip-Hop, and Coupé Decalé, DJ ALTAY has become one of the most electrifying DJs in Winnipeg’s nightlife and event scene. With a deep-rooted passion for music that started in his early teens, ALTAY’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Growing up in a musical family, ALTAY was exposed to a wide spectrum of sounds—from classical to club anthems. His early experiments with FL Studio led him to create hip-hop and afrobeat instrumentals for his friends in university. However, his thirst for a deeper connection with music and live audiences pushed him to explore DJing. Once he stepped into the world of turntables and live sets, he was hooked on the energy, crowd, and pure thrill of controlling the sound.
Over the past five years, ALTAY has solidified his presence in Winnipeg’s club and concert scene, curating sets that transcend borders and bring people together through music. He has opened for Afrobeat icons like Asake and Flavour, proving his ability to command the stage and elevate any event he plays at. Whether it's a packed club, a sold-out concert, or an intimate VIP event, ALTAY’s signature sound keeps the crowd moving all night long.
As the visionary behind Afropegga, ALTAY has played a key role in fostering a platform that celebrates African culture through music and entertainment. His influence in the community continues to grow as he connects people through curated experiences and high-energy performances.
With a keen ear for innovation and a deep appreciation for the roots of his craft, DJ ALTAY continues to shape the sound of the city—one set at a time. Whether it's Afrobeats, Amapiano, Dancehall, Hip-Hop, or French African rhythms, one thing is certain: when ALTAY is on the decks, the vibe is unmatched.
Angeline Tetteh-Wayoe
Host/Producer
The Block
Angeline has a voice that resonates and carries, signalling her arrival well before you see her. Her humorous spirit has the ability to transcend, it can be felt through sound alone. She is a perfect match for radio, a medium she has been loyal to for almost 20 years.
She graduated with honors from the Radio and Television program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, beginning her career as a Producer and Host for the Edmonton Radio Group. Her next step was to join the team in Calgary, Alberta launching its first Rhythmic CHR format, Vibe 98.5. Her flexibility, edgy personality and depth of knowledge took her show straight to #1 in the market. She then jumped into the world of DJing, another creative outlet for her love of music, an element in the tapestry of her artistic expression.
Angeline relocated to Toronto in 2010 to take over as Midday host at FLOW 93.5 eventually accepting a position as host and producer at CBC MUSIC in 2016. Her talents also led to guest hosting stints with CBC Radio One programs like “As It Happens” and “q”. Angeline was also the “Allan Slaight Distinguished Broadcaster-In-Residence” at Ryerson University from 2017 to 2019. On Jan. 18th 2021 CBC MUSIC announced that Angeline would become the host of a brand new Black Music focused show called “The Block”. Angeline is generous with her ideas and intimate in her interviews. Her ambitious production projects, her unique storytelling and captivating natural delivery bring a rare and authentic voice never before heard in the Canadian Radio landscape.
Odario Williams
Host
Afterdark
Odario Williams is a Guyanese-born entertainer, raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Today Odario resides in Toronto and is the lead vocalist for the award-winning hip-hop collective Grand Analog. His rap career began while studying creative writing, theatre and film at the University of Winnipeg. He always considered Winnipeg, where he honed his craft, to be a hotbed for creativity & self-expression. As an entertainer, Odario wears many hats, describing himself mainly as a storyteller (he's also been titled a “modern day renaissance man”). Aside from being an actor, songwriter, producer, teacher, journalist and poet, Odario is no stranger to the CBC airwaves as a broadcaster. Over the last decade he has been a regular host on Radio 3. He's also guest-hosted The Signal, CBC Music Top 20 and the Weekend Morning show. Odario is currently the host of Afterdark on CBC Music.
Tomiwa Omolayo
BPM Coordinator
TOMMYPHYLL is an AFRODIEM artist and producer from Lagos Nigeria and has called Winnipeg home for the past 9 years. After releasing his debut self-produced album “Art of DREAMS” in 2020 he’s had his foot on the pedal and hasn’t taken it off since. Having Graced multiple stages with big names in AFROBEATS and more, he continues to deliver electrifying performances with every appearance he makes. He strongly believes that you’ll be a fan once you’re three songs into his discography. When he isn’t working on music, TOMMYPHYLL is working in music and Fashion under the code name “TOMIWA” He has done work with the St Norbert Arts Center, Folk Music Ontario, IRAEDAY and on occasion provides artist consultation.
February is a significant month when we commemorate the achievements and contributions of Blacks in Canada and worldwide.
In 1981, the Black History Month Celebration Committee (BHMCC) was established to plan and implement activities during Black History Month. By 1990, its role expanded to include creating awareness of Black history in Manitoba and beyond, stimulating interest in the contributions of people of African ancestry, and celebrating historical achievements in arts, education, government, sports, science, and more.
Today, BHMCC, alongside other local organizations, promotes, celebrates, and shares Black culture and heritage, with its History Lesson and Youth Symposium as key events.
The committee has successfully encouraged schools and organizations in Winnipeg to hold Black History Month activities, affirming its commitment to celebrating Black heritage and contributions.
The Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG)-Qaumajuq is a cultural advocate using art as a catalyst for change. The Gallery features an impressive collection of over 27,000 artworks spanning centuries, cultures, and media, including the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world. Each piece has its own story to tell. Sharing these stories with the world is at the core of WAG-Qaumajuq. This is an engaging, accessible space where visitors can experience art and learning in new ways. Principles of equity, care, trust, and responsibility guide the institution towards meaningful impact and transformation. To learn more, visit wag.ca.
BPM | Black Professionals in Music
Launched in February 2021 and facilitated by Tomiwa Omolayo, BPM | Black Professionals in Music is a program via Manitoba Music that supports Black music professionals in Manitoba. BPM presents quarterly mixers for participants to meet and build their community and networks, followed by live performances, as well as other programming throughout the year. Participants can bring ideas, share their professional needs and barriers, and influence the future direction of the program. To get involved, please email bpm@manitobamusic.com. Participants must be residents of Manitoba and identify as Black musicians or music industry professionals.