Canadian hip-hop artist Kardinal Offishall and Soulpepper Theatre artistic director Weyni Mengesha will be honoured at the 2024 Legacy Awards.

The Black Academy, alongside CBC, Insight Productions and Bay Mills Studios, have announced the first two award recipients at this year’s Legacy Awards. Offishall (pictured left) will receive the Icon Award and Mengesha (pictured, right) will be given the Trailblazer Award.

Born in Scarborough, Ont., Offishall is a well-known Canadian rapper and record producer that has been active in the music industry for nearly three decades. He is often called the hip-hop ambassador of Canada and is known for implementing reggae and dancehall motifs into his music.

Mengesha, while venerated for her career as a stage and artistic director, has also been involved in the Canadian film and television industry. She worked as an EP, as well a director, on Kim’s Convenience and as a director on Pretty Hard Cases and 21 Black Futures.

The Legacy Awards will air live on CBC and CBC Gem on Sept. 29. The awards celebrate Black Canadian achievements in film, sports, television, music and culture. It was launched in 2022 through a partnership between The Black Academy and Insight Productions, with CBC broadcasting the show through 2024.

The Black Academy was co-founded in 2020 by Shamier Anderson and Stephan James. with the goals to showcase Black excellence and establish new spaces for Black Canadians to celebrate and network. It is a division of the not-for-profit Building A Legacy in Acting, Cinema and Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.) Canada, also co-founded by the duo.

This year’s awards are executive produced by Anderson and James for The Black Academy and the duo’s production company, Bay Mills Studios, along with John Brunton, Lindsay Cox and Shannon Farr for Insight Productions. Jordan Rudder is the producer/talent producer and the awards will be hosted by Welsh-born, Canada-based actor Adrian Holmes.

“For years, Weyni and Kardi have awed international audiences and listeners with their creative output – and they’re both true pioneers in their respective fields,” said James in a statement. “But what stands out even more for us is their relentless commitment to mentoring up-and-coming talent. Nurturing future Black stars is so fundamental to what we stand for at The Black Academy and we couldn’t be happier to champion their considerable artistic achievements and all that they have done for our community.”

Image courtesy of The Black Academy