OK Naledi brings Afro-Fusion to the Canal on July 11
The Ottawa-based group performs free on a boat along the Rideau Canal beginning near the NAC at 4:30 PM, with the musician-packed boat arriving at Lansdowne Park approximately 45 minutes later.
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OK Naledi, a high-energy Afro-Fusion music group based in Ottawa, will perform a free concert on a boat sailing the Rideau Canal on Saturday, July 11 beginning at 4:30 PM.
Rooted in Motswana heritage, OK Naledi weaves raw emotion and vibrant sounds into stories of heartbreak, love, queerness, family and adulthood. The group blends traditional sub-Saharan guitar lines, warm bassy grooves, and movement-inspiring beats to create a genre-defiant sound. Their songwriting is deeply personal, shaped by living in a Western context while carrying the roots and rhythms of southern Africa.
The concert takes place along the Rideau Canal beginning near the National Arts Centre, under the Rideau Street Bridge. The boat will arrive at Lansdowne Park approximately 45 minutes later and then return. The full set runs approximately 90 minutes with an intermission.
Since emerging in 2022, OK Naledi has earned major festival appearances, several award nominations, and provincial arts funding. Their music video "do you feel" was selected for the 2023 Los Angeles Queer Film Festival, and their debut full-length album launched with a sold-out release show at the National Arts Centre.
The National Arts Centre recommends finding a spot along the canal away from the starting point at the NAC, where you'll be able to hear the boat as it approaches and continues down the canal. Pack a picnic, bring folding chairs, and let the music come to you. If you want to keep up with the boat, you can cycle alongside — it moves faster than walking pace.