Ahmed Moneka

Baghdad, Iraq

He is a multi-talented artist, Candianan/Iraqi born in Baghdad and lives in Toronto, specializing in acting, music, and writing. As an Afro-Iraqi, he deeply connects to his roots and culture, which he honours and preserves through his work. Ahmed's artistic projects revolve around togetherness and harmony, which he believes are the core values of every endeavour he's been a part of. His unique background and diverse skill set allow him to bring a fresh perspective to Canada's entertainment industry. In Baghdad, Ahmed studied theatre at the Institute of Fine Art and then at the prestigious Academy of Fine Art. He was the first Black Iraqi to host a television program, the youngest member of the Iraqi National Theatre, and he played Romeo in Romeo and Juliet in Baghdad at the Royal Shakespeare Company in England. He co-wrote and starred in the film The Society, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and resulted in his exile from Iraq because of its subject matter of homosexuality.