Manitoba Music
BPM X WAG-Qaumajuq Spotlights Black Music Makers with Concert & Mixer
BPM X WAG-Qaumajuq returns with a new edition on Friday, November 28! 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.
BPM X WAG-Qaumajuq
Friday, November 21, 2025
Featuring Adiyo, DXXN, DJ Saint
Free / Doors 6 PM / Music & Mixer 7 - 9 PM
Food by AFV Kitchen
Winnipeg Art Gallery - Qaumajuq, 300 Memorial Blvd
The concert will feature Congolese-Canadian singer/songwriter/producer/performer Adiyo, Afro-pop/Afro-fusion artist and producer DXXN, and DJ Saint spinning tunes throughout the night. The intimate setting allows the artists to express themselves through stripped-down, visceral performances that address identity and community, and celebrate the African Diaspora.
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 also includes critical training opportunities in the afternoon following the WAG-Qaumajuq events. For this edition, we will be joined by marketing and communications professional Chinyere Oji for an exploration of strategic marketing and artist branding on November 22, 2 - 4 PM at the Manitoba Music office for Own Your Voice: Exploring Strategic Marketing & Identity. This session is free and open to all, pre-registration via 3Common is requested.
Most recently, BPM programming included a session on supporting Black music professionals during the BreakOut West Conference in September and and second edition of BPM X CCFM in August, which included a music supervision workshop and demo listening session. Creating new avenues for specialized professional development is an increasingly key component of BPM planning.
About the Artists / Mentor / Coordinator
Blending soulful melodies with AfroChestral rhythms, Adiyo is redefining what it means to create music that heals, uplifts, and empowers.
Born of Congolese roots and raised in Canada, Adiyo is a genre-blending force—an accomplished singer, songwriter, music producer, and dancer whose sound bridges the rich pulse of Soukous and Afrobeat with the emotional pull of R&B, pop, and jazz. Her signature? A bold infusion of orchestral instrumentation—an elegant, cinematic layer she calls AfroChestral—that
elevates every beat with intention and grace.
Her music is more than sound—it's soul work. With lyrics that explore self-worth, cultural identity, and emotional resilience, Adiyo offers listeners a deeply personal yet universally relatable experience. From high-energy anthems to soul-stirring ballads, her work is a celebration of growth, grace, and the beauty of coming home to oneself.
DXXN (pronounced "Deen") is an Afrobeats/Afro-Pop/R&B artist and record producer based in Canada. His music is a blend of Afrobeat infused with R&B, jazz, neo-soul, hip-hop, and contemporary Afrobeat sub-genres, such as Apala and Fuji music.
DXXN infuses street slang and personal lingo delivered in his catchy melodies with a rich and eccentric baritone voice—the lady's favourite!
In 2025, DXXN was nominated for BreakOut West’s Afrobeats Artist of the Year, a recognition that highlights his rising influence in both the Canadian and global music scenes. He also served as a delegate at the BreakOut West conference, further cementing his role as a voice in the growing Afrobeats movement.
Beyond the studio, DXXN has taken his artistry to the stage, performing this year at Rainbow Trout Music Festival, Blur Fest, ExRays with Red River Ex, and LoveVille Fest. Known for his magnetic stage presence, he has built a reputation for electrifying performances that deeply connect with audiences of all kinds.
DXXN isn’t just making music—he’s creating experiences, blending cultures, and carving out a unique lane in Afrobeats and beyond.
DJ Saint is a Canadian-based DJ with 12+ years of experience performing nationwide and collaborating with top international artists. As co-founder of City of the Saints, he’s dedicated to showcasing local talent and delivering unforgettable, high-energy sets.
Chinyere Oji
Marketing & Communications Professional
As a marketing and communications professional with years of experience in the entertainment and lifestyle industry, Chinyere builds bridges through compelling narratives, campaigns and fostering genuine relationships along the way. Her expertise in campaign management, event management, media relations, research, and content marketing has led to notable successes, including contributing to Rema's ‘HEIS’ album launch, which saw multiple songs chart in Nigeria's top 5 and achieve 144+ million global streams. She also jointly worked on the successful relaunch of Showmax, Africa's second-largest video-on-demand streaming service, while significantly boosting its media coverage and social engagement.
Chinyere is committed to staying at the forefront of industry trends in order to help businesses amplify their brand visibility and craft engaging stories and campaigns that create meaningful connections between brands and consumers.
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
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.