Zalam Kao

Winner of the 2026 Syli d’Or for World Music, a competition sponsored by our partners and friends at the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique.

First and foremost a group of friends, Zalam Kao practices the art of creating as a community. The quintet features Clovis Lamarre (Tchobis) on production and mixing, Antonio Dorsaint Manigat (Ogou Rayfé) on vocals and rap, MoMo as a jazz multi-instrumentalist, Lucas Melo on guitar, double bass, and lyrics, and Edaï Larobina on composition and instruments. Their very first album, Tou Lumin, was released in October 2025.

Blending jazz, funk, soul, and world beat, the quintet delivers a warm musical experience that captures the cultural essence of Montreal. Their debut single, *Tout Pour Toi* (June 2024), won over French-speaking audiences and the Canadian press, cementing their emergence on the national music scene. The success of this sunny track establishes Zalam Kao as a distinctive voice among the new generation of Quebec artists.