Sultans of String: Sing For Kwanzaa
Just as they begin a Christmas tour, the award-winning world music ensemble delivers a song to celebrate another seasonal holiday. Featuring Grammy-winning guest Richard Bona, it is a heartwarming and melodic tune with an African vibe.
By Kerry Doole
Sultans of String: "Sing For Kwanzaa " (Indie): The highly-regarded and stylistically eclectic Toronto-based world music ensemble has the holiday season covered. On the eve of this American Thanksgiving weekend, just as they begin an extensive Christmas tour, Sultans of String released a new video for this tune celebrating the Kwanzaa holiday.
Co-produced by SoS leader Chris McKhool and award-winning engineer John 'Beetle' Bailey, this is an uplifting song featuring the musical talents and warm voice of guest Richard Bona, a Grammy-winning bassist from The Cameroons. Sudanese-Canadian musician Waleed Abdulhamid contributes English vocals, and the result is a sweetly melodic song with a strong African vibe. The video clip is a heartwarming one.
Sultans of String have been nominated for a Juno three times, have won three Canadian Folk Music Awards, and made the Billboard charts.
Of note: SoS are fundraising partners with UNHCR, the United Nations Agency for Refugees in Canada.
Yesterday (Nov. 22) the group began its holiday tour In Owen Sound, ON, and it closes out in Cazenovia NY on Dec. 23. The show will feature material from the group's 2017 album, Christmas Caravan. Rebecca Campbell guests on the entire tour with Amanda Martinez and Kellylee Evans joining on a couple of shows. Dates here
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Publicity/Management: LW Communications, Lisa Weitz
The Weeknd at Rogers Centre in Toronto on August 8, 2025.Hyghly Alleyne, Courtesy XO Records