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John Orpheus
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Born and raised in South-Central Trinidad, Antonio Michael Downing aka John Orpheus is a multi-cultural musical artist, celebrated author and speaker. His memoir SAGA BOY was published in 2021 by Penguin Random House and has been shortlisted for both the Speaker's Book Prize and the Toronto Book Award. It is a visceral, vulnerable memoir about Blackness, identity and his quest for home. The companion album, the critically acclaimed, SAGA KING was voted by Exclaim Magazine as one of Canada's 20 most anticipated albums of 2021. His sound combines hip-hop swagger, Afrobeat energy and dancehall charisma into a unique vision rooted in the African diaspora. He has become one of the most dynamic, multi-faceted artists in North America and a passionate advocate for the potency of art in healing ourselves and the world.