In Levantine Arabic, the word “kazdoura” means “to stroll.” Play a track by the duo of Leen Hama and John Abou Chacra and you’re likely to find your shoulders moving, hips shaking and toes tapping as you take a physical and spiritual stroll through tunes laden with a deep sense of rhythm and groove. Of Syrian and Lebanese heritage respectively, Hama and Chacra draw from their Middle Eastern roots to create a thoroughly modern Arab-Canadian sound.

2026 Juno Global Roots winners Kazdoura’s songs centre around Hama's soaring vocals, which drift through Chacra’s deft and danceable instrumentation. Together they create a spell of hypnotic psychedelic funkiness, pulling in saxophone, guitar, and plenty of beats with their band. There’s a looseness to the music that feels untethered to any one genre or tradition: while undeniably Arab in terms of language and culture, Kazdoura weaves in elements of funk, jazz, disco and electro-pop in a true act of musical fusion.

The combination has earned the duo accolades across the Arab diaspora and, of all places, on TikTok, proving Kazdoura’s infectious appeal is universal as they channel a rare chemistry that bridges continents and generations. Every Kazdoura song is an invitation to get up and move (or “stroll” as the case may be) through Hama and Chacra’s intoxicating world.

- Elizabeth Chorney-Booth