Moneka Arabic Jazz is a project reflecting the life and artistic journey of its founder, Ahmed, from Baghdad to Toronto. It showcases melodies from his homeland, Iraq, interwoven with the African groove and rhythms inherited from the Moneka Family.

Ahmed often draws inspiration for songwriting from extensive research into stories from Iraq and contemporary local and global realities. Having arrived in Toronto, Canada, his aim is to share this rich heritage and traditions with local musicians. Jazz and blues emerge as the ideal genres for bridging his Afro-Arabic background with the captivating musical diversity of Toronto’s performers.

Moneka Arabic Jazz Group

Ahmed Moneka

During my formative years in Iraq, I learned traditional songs and drumming in a family tradition that was brought to Iraq in the 8th century. Later, I was accepted into one of Iraq’s top high schools for the performing arts where I learned a variety of artistic disciplines from theatre to singing maqam (scales and nuances) of Middle Eastern music. Through these experiences, I acquired many perspectives on our world and my place within it and I continued attending the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Baghdad. During these years, I began to be incredibly moved by stories of human struggle and freedom and formed my convictions about human rights through my art, voice and song.

Group bios

Waleed Abdulhamid – bass guitar, vocals. Waleed was born in Sudan and began performing at the age of 6. He toured across his country, as well as Egypt, Syria, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Waleed is known for bringing traditional rhythms into popular music in Sudan.

Demetri Petsalakis – guitar, oud. From Greece, Demetri Petsalakis performs on Greek and Middle Eastern lutes. A busy freelancer, Demetri performs with world music groups and orchestras and holds a Master of Music degree in jazz guitar and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music from York University.

Fathi Najem – electric violin, kora. Fathi began his musical journey in Algeria, learning Arabic violin. World music collaborations there introduced him to the kora which he plays in a variety of world music contexts.

Ernie Tollar – sax, Arabic flute. Ernie has performed jazz sax internationally and also plays Raga and Maqam music from India and the Arab world.

Max Sennitt – drum kit. Max is one of Toronto’s most in demand drum kit players who mixes jazz and funk easily with traditional musics.