Discoveries Vol.8 with Musical Host Batuki Music

Discoveries Vol.8 Live in the Green Sanderson Hall at Hugh's Room, 296 Broadview Avenue
Show at 8pm, Doors at 7pm
$15+ in advance, $22+at the door 

Batuki Music Society Line-Up Discovery Concert – Thursday January 29, 2026
Batuki Music Society is an incorporated non-profit community-based organization that
promotes African music and art through performances at music venues throughout the
year and culminating into a weekend festival at the end of the programming season.
We’re proud to welcome their presentation of several talented African artists on
Thursday January 29 for Discoveries Vol.8.

The following artists will be performing:

Nii Osabu is a Ghanaian musician currently based in Toronto. He is the founder and
lead vocalist of the AfroBoys Band and plays solo shows as well. Three of his songs
were in the docuseries Beads Build Bridges featured in the Los Angeles’ Pan African
Film Festival. In Canada, Nii Osabu has performed at festivals like the Habari African
Festival, Family Day festival by Aga Khan Museum, Ghanafest and at venues such as
the Royal Ontario Museum, Drom Taberna and many others.

 
Dipo is a Nigeria-born, Canada-based artist who blends soul, R&B, jazz, folk, highlife
and Fuji, capturing hearts with velvety vocals and genre-bending style. While in Nigeria,
he broke onto the music scene by making it to the top five on the talent show Nokia First
Chance. Dipo has shared the stage with some of Nigeria’s greatest. He opened for ASA
at her debut concert and also opened for 2Face Idibia and D’banj. His style of music is
influenced by great musicians including Fela Kuti, Al Green, Lionel Richie, Stevie
Wonder and Marvin Gaye.

Sintayehu ‘Mimi’ Zenebe and Abebe Fikade

Sintayehu ‘Mimi’ Zenebe is a talented singer, songwriter and dancer, hailing from a
musical family and known as the “Edith Piaf” of Ethiopia. She has been performing
traditional music from a young age and has shared the stage with many Ethiopian
artists and groups. Zenebe was the vocalist for U.K.’s Dub Colossus, touring
internationally and recording albums released on Real World Records. She has
perfected her skills as a vocalist, dancer and performer of Azmari songs. She has
released a number of singles and albums including her latest, Yegeremegn, in
December 2024.
Abebe Fikade comes from a long line of Azmari from the Gondar regions performing
songs with traditional and contemporary themes. He is a masenqo (single-stringed
fiddle) player, vocalist and composer, who performs the monochord music of the
Azmari. He has performed at the Habari Africa Festival, Sounds of Saba at Alliance

Francaise, Ethiopia, A Musical Perspective at Glenn Gould Studio and Luminato
festival, as well as various Ethiopian restaurants, community events, festivals and clubs.

David J.
David J. is a South Sudanese-Canadian musician and activist from a family of
musicians. He is a skilled guitarist in many music genres including reggae, soukous,
rumba, afrobeats and zouk. Living in Alberta from 2011 to 2019, David was immersed in
African music, performing with his band at many festivals and venues, including the
Calgary Stampede. He moved to Ottawa and quickly became a fixture on the African
music scene there and in Montreal. He is now based in Toronto.

Ruth Mathiang is a singer/songwriter whose elegant melodic sound has been described as a mixture of traditional African music with folk, soul, jazz and reggae inspired. Singing in Arabic, Kiswahili and English, she recorded her first CD “My Cry, Peace” in Prince Edward Island, depicting her difficult life growing up in war-ravaged Southern Sudan. Ruth Mathiang uses her voice and talent to advocate for important social issues.  Her songs express longing for the importance of social justice, timeless fight for equality, and the dream of world peace. Ruth has performed for non-profit agencies that work in Africa in sectors such as human rights, women and children issues, primary health care and community development. Ruth seems to be on a path reminiscent of past activist voices, the late Miriam Makeba and the socially conscious Tracey Chapman, her musical heroes. 

Ṣẹwà
Ṣẹwà is a Toronto-based Nigerian singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and budding
producer blending Afrobeat, Fuji, jazz, R&B, soul/blues, and pop. A fan once described
her voice as “the after-smell of rain.” After selling out her first Nigerian concert in 2021,
she moved to Toronto, completed Seneca College’s music program, and has since
headlined sold-out shows and opened for artists like Asa, Johnny Drille and Kiss Daniel.
With two EPs out and an album called Detox released in 2025, Ṣẹwà’s soulful sound
and vivid storytelling continue to connect cultures and captivate audiences across
stages and streaming platforms.

 

296 Broadview is not yet a fully wheelchair accessible venue, with stairs between all levels. Our goal is to fix that, and we need your support to do so - please consider making a donation towards our goals to make HRL the best listening room in Toronto!