{{Short description|Canadian world music band}} The '''AfroNubians''' (also known as '''Tarig Abubakar & The Afro Nubians''') was a world music band based in Toronto. They played newly composed and traditional pan-African-style music, blended with Latin, reggae, rock sounds.<ref>[https://www.proquest.com/docview/437610189 "The what and where of pan-African music"]. ''Toronto Star'' - Toronto, Ont. By Lenny Stoute Jan 11, 1997 Page: K.11{{Dead link|date=October 2021}}</ref>
==History== The AfroNubians came together in 1992. The group's founders included Sudanese immigrant Tarig Abubakar (1964–1998)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jennings |first1=Nicholas |title=Tarig Abubakar |url=https://www.twasonline.com/in-memoriam/tarig-abubakar/ |website=twasonline.com |publisher=Toronto World Arts Scene |access-date=28 October 2021}}</ref> as leader and principal composer, guitarist Adam Solomon, lead guitarist Joe Szilagy (aka Joe Slant), keyboardist Wail Hajelamin, drummer Kofi Acka, saxophonist Bruno Hedman and bassist Mohammed Hajelamin.
In 1993, the AfroNubians toured western Canada,<ref>[http://afrotoronto.com/content/articles/40-music/1271-adam-solomon-raising-awareness-through-music "Adam Solomon: Raising awareness through music"]{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. ''AfroToronto'', 23 Aug 2014 Written by Meres J. Weche</ref> and in 1994 released their first album, ''Tour to Africa''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tarig Abubakar & The Afro-Nubians* – Tour to Africa |url=https://www.discogs.com/master/1363506-Tarig-Abubakar-The-Afro-Nubians-Tour-to-Africa |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=28 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Beat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vQM5AQAAIAAJ|volume=14|year=1995|publisher=Bongo Productions|page=49}}</ref> In 1995, they released the album ''The Great Africans'' and were named Band of the Year at the Toronto African Music Awards.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}<ref>[https://www.proquest.com/docview/437165711 "Afro-Nubians sound the drums of unity"]. ''Toronto Star'' - Toronto, Ont. By Peter Howell Jan 19, 1995 Page: B.10{{Dead link|date=October 2021}}</ref> That was followed by three tours across Canada and, in 1997, the Toronto Arts Council released their third album, ''Hobey Laik''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tarig Abubakar & The Afro Nubians – Hobey Laik |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4583665-Tarig-Abubakar-The-Afro-Nubians-Hobey-Laik. |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=28 October 2021}}</ref>
In 1998, shortly before the band was scheduled to embark on its first U.S. tour, Abubakar took a trip to Sudan and was killed in a motor vehicle accident.
In 2005, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation released a CD, produced by Todd Fraracci, of two of the band's live concerts.<ref>[https://nowtoronto.com/music/perlichs-picks-2005-03-03/ "Perlich's Picks"]. ''NOW Toronto'', by Tim Perlich March 3, 2005</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tarig Abubakar + Afronubians* – Live |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/6578733-Tarig-Abubakar |website=discogs.com |publisher=Discogs |access-date=28 October 2021}}</ref> Musicians included on the CD with Abubakar, Solomon, and Szilagy were Bruno Hedman (saxophone), Jim Heineman (saxophone and flute), Pa Jo (lead guitar), Altaf Bwana Moto (drums) and Joseph Ashong (percussion).
==Discography== * 1994: ''Tour to Africa'' * 1995: ''The Great Africans'' * 1997: ''Hobey Laik'' * 2005: ''Tarig Abubakar & Afronubians Live''
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.rootsworld.com/rw/feature/tarig.html "Tarig Ahmed Abubakar: He was my friend"], obituary by Opiyo Oloya *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120204040328/http://www.afropop.org/explore/albums/ID/437/where/artist Afropop Worldwide: AfroNubians] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060518072006/http://www.cbcshop.ca/CBC/shopping/product.aspx?Product_ID=3015&Variant_ID=TRCD+3015&lang=en-CA CBC Shop: ''Tarig Abubakar & Afronubians Live''] (with band background)
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{{DEFAULTSORT:AfroNubians}} Category:Musical groups established in 1992 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1998 Category:Musical groups from Toronto Category:Canadian world music groups Category:1992 establishments in Ontario Category:1998 disestablishments in Ontario