Toronto-Based Syrian-Lebanese Duo Kazdoura Wins JUNO Award, Marking Major Milestone for Arabic Music in Canada

Syrian-Lebanese duo Kazdoura

Debut album “Ghoyoum” becomes the first primarily Arabic-language recording to win Global Album of the Year

TORONTO, ON, CANADA, April 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Toronto-based Syrian-Lebanese duo Kazdoura has won the JUNO Award for Global Album of the Year at the 2026 JUNO Awards, a prestigious recognition presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to honor outstanding achievements in Canada’s music industry. Widely regarded as the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards in the United States, the JUNO Awards celebrate excellence across all genres of music.

Kazdoura’s debut album, Ghoyoum, has made history as the first primarily Arabic-language album to receive this distinguished award. The album captures the deeply personal and collective experiences of refugees and musicians living in exile, offering a powerful artistic narrative that resonates across cultures.

“I came from Syria carrying a heavy past and hope to change my reality,” said Leen Hamo, singer and co-founder of Kazdoura. “We started Kazdoura with no expectations, only a desire to share the music, language, and culture we love. We never imagined we would be standing here.”

John Abou Chacra, saxophonist, guitarist, and co-founder, added, "To win a JUNO and to be the first primarily Arabic-language recording to ever do so—it’s a dream we never knew we could have. This belongs to our community.”

Ghoyoum, which translates to “clouds,” explores the concept of “shadow existence”—a theme reflecting the haunting memories of war, displacement, and longing for home, alongside the uncertainty of identity in a new country. Through evocative storytelling and innovative soundscapes, the album navigates emotions such as nostalgia, love, loss, frustration, and resilience.

Kazdoura was born from resilience, cultural connection, and a shared passion for Arabic psychedelic music. The duo, Syrian singer Leen Hamo and Lebanese jazz musician John Abou Chacra, first connected at a Toronto fundraiser following the Beirut explosion in 2020, sparking a creative partnership that would soon evolve into a groundbreaking musical project.

Rooted in Levantine Arabic traditions and driven by genre-defying experimentation, Ghoyoum blends Arabic maqams, Middle Eastern rhythms, and psychedelic influences into a rich and immersive musical experience.

The album is dedicated to Syrian, Lebanese, and Palestinian refugees, as well as all victims of war around the world, and to those who continue to dream of a better future.

For more information, visit www.Kazdouramusic.com.

Instagram: @kazdouramusic

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