Singer, scholar, and interdisciplinary artist Zakiyyah is set to bring her album, African Import, to the stage for a live concert on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Boston Arts Academy. The announcement signals a significant moment for audiences seeking deeper engagement with music that bridges classical training, contemporary production, and layered storytelling.
Released on February 6, 2026, African Import is a bold and reflective body of work exploring identity, heritage, and the enduring influence of African and diasporic sound. The album offers listeners an immersive sonic experience rooted in history while firmly grounded in the present. By translating this recorded work into a live setting, Zakiyyah creates an opportunity for communal reflection on how sound evolves while remaining deeply connected to memory, culture, and place.
The concert will bring the music to life through live performance, community gathering, and curated experiences designed to deepen the audience's connection to the project. More than a traditional concert, the evening will celebrate artistry across time. It will highlight how sound carries forward traditions even as it embraces innovation, making the event a space where past and present converse.
"African Import is about honoring where sound comes from and how it continues to shape us," says Zakiyyah. "This project allowed me to explore the conversations between past and present, tradition and innovation, and to invite listeners into that dialogue." That dialogue extends beyond the music itself, as the concert will feature immersive elements inspired by the album's themes, giving attendees an experience that extends beyond the stage.
Known for bringing together music, culture, history, and activism through her work, Zakiyyah uses her artistry to create space for both reflection and conversation. With African Import, she continues to push creative boundaries while remaining grounded in community, collaboration, and purpose. The decision to stage the album in Boston, a city with rich cultural and educational institutions, underscores the project's aim to foster connection and dialogue among diverse audiences.
For those following contemporary music that engages with heritage and identity, this concert represents more than a performance. It is an invitation to participate in a larger conversation about how art can honor origins while imagining new futures. As Zakiyyah brings African Import to the stage, she offers a model for how live music can serve as a gathering point for memory, culture, and collective meaning.
