OKAN, the JUNO-winning duo, has been making waves in the music industry for years with their bold Afro-Cuban sound, vibrant fusion of genres, and boundary-breaking artistry. Recently, they brought their signature energy to NPR’s Tiny Desk, proving once again why they’re at the forefront of Canada’s Latin music scene.
NPR’s Tiny Desk is a renowned concert series that showcases intimate performances recorded in the cozy, close-knit setting of NPR Music’s Washington, D.C. office. Since its debut in 2009, the series has featured over 1,230 performances, including some of the biggest stars in the world. With its stripped-back format, Tiny Desk highlights musicians’ craftsmanship, providing a unique space for artists to connect more deeply with viewers.
Each year, from September 15th to October 15th, NPR’s Alt.Latino podcast celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month in the US with “El Tiny,” a special Tiny Desk takeover showcasing the diverse sounds and stories of Latinx heritage. Now in its fourth iteration, this year marked the first time the series was curated around a specific theme: love. And who better to embody this theme than OKAN?
Okan. JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada at Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax, NS. March 23, 2024. PHOTO CREDIT: CARAS/Morgan Hotston.
Led by Cuban-born artists Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne, OKAN derives its name from the word for “heart” in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santería, a fitting reflection of the passion at the core of their music. Their sound is a dynamic celebration of cultural heritage, resistance, and love, blending Afro-Cuban roots with jazz, folk, and global rhythms with lyrics sung in Spanish, Yoruba, and Spanglish.
For their performance, the duo led a talented five-piece band, featuring fellow Cuban musicians Camila Cortina on piano, Yissy García on drums, and Chilean-born Gerson Lazo-Quiroga on bass. Together, they delivered a powerful set of four songs from their 2024 JUNO-winning album, Okantomi. Widely acclaimed, the album blends traditional Cuban elements with contemporary sounds, celebrating the duo’s Afro-Cuban backgrounds while reflecting their experiences of migration and belonging in Canada.
A defining feature of OKAN’s music is its spiritual richness, often drawing on Afro-Cuban chants from Santería, with strong roots in Yoruba traditions. From their setlist, the song “Oriki Oshun” honours Oshun, the goddess of rivers and fertility, while “Eshu Nigüe (Elegua)” is dedicated to Elegua, the guardian of crossroads, a deity representing choices and transitions—metaphors that resonate deeply with their personal journeys.
But despite these profound themes, OKAN’s music bursts with infectious energy, blending intricate rhythms and melodies with a joyful spirit that invites audiences to dance and celebrate alongside them. This vibrant energy shines through in every moment of their performance, creating the fun and lively atmosphere that has quickly become OKAN’s hallmark.
“Having the opportunity to tell our story, talk about what inspires us and share the Afro-Cuban chants that are interwoven through our music, was a great honour. It was also amazing to share the Tiny Desk spotlight with other women artists from Cuba,” Rodriguez told Jazz News following their performance.
“We’re thrilled that this is happening as part of Latin Heritage Month which is so important in increasing the visibility of Latin music and especially Afro-Cuban music,” added Savigne.
You can catch their entire performance, as well as every “El Tiny” Tiny Desk concert, on NPR’s website.
Featured image: OKAN. 2024 JUNO Nominee Announcement at CBC Studio 40, Toronto, ON. February 6, 2024. PHOTO CREDIT: CARAS/Ryan Bolton.
