Ahmed Moneka
is an actor/musician/writer/director and multidisciplinary artist who arrived in Toronto from Baghdad five years ago and has since collaborated with many art institutions.
Ahmed Moneka is an actor, musician, wirter and director who arrived in Toronto from Baghdad five years ago and has since collaborated with many artistic institutions including the Canadian Opera Company, Tarragon Theatre, Aga Khan Museum, Tafelmusik, Driftwood Theatre, Toronto Jazz Festival, Koerner Hall, Modern Times Stage, and etc. He is one of the founders of the band Moskitto Bar is a unique sound created in the multi-cultural hub of Toronto, Canada. Also, Ahmed is a creator and leader of Moneka Arabic Jazz rooted in jazz and blues, Afro-Iraqi heritage and influences along with Toronto’s mix to create a distinct, funk. 2019 Stingray Rising Stars Winner at the Toronto Jazz Festival.
In Baghdad, Ahmed studied theatre at the Institute of Fine Art and then at the Academy of Fine Art. He also learned Afro-Sufi singing and drumming in the tradition of his family, who came to Iraq from Kenya in the 8th century. He was the first Black Iraqi to host a television program, and he played Romeo in Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad at the Royal Shakespeare Company in England. He starred in the film The Society which premiered at the TIFF and resulted in his exile from Iraq because of its subject matter of homosexuality.
Visit Ahmed’s website here
Follow @ahmedmoneka on Instagram