Witch Prophet on uncovering her East African queer roots

Ayo Leilani, better known as Witch Prophet, is a Caledon-based, Ethiopian-Eritrean singer-songwriter. Ahead of the release of her sophomore album, D.N.A Activation, she discusses researching her family tree and connecting to Toronto’s queer communities.

Listen to songs by Witch Prophet here, plus more tracks from other Xtra featured artists like Cartel Madras, TRP.P, R. Flex and more.

Keep Reading

On the left, Jason Collins on the cover of Sports Illustrated coming out as gay. On the right, a photo of Collins playing for the Brooklyn Nets.

Remembering Jason Collins, the gay NBA player who changed the game

The late trailblazer made history when he came out in 2013
Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka speaks during the Semafor World Economy Summit.

U.S. counterterrorism strategy takes aim at ‘pro-transgender’ groups

The Trump administration’s updated counterterrorism strategy targets “left-wing extremists” and groups who are “radically pro-transgender”
Renée Richards at a tennis match

The complicated legacy of Renée Richards

The former tennis player broke barriers for trans athletes in 1977. Then she changed her tune
Supporters of HIV AIDS research participate in the 2025 Toronto Pride Parade

Toronto man set to be the first Canadian cured of HIV

The patient received a stem cell transplant for his cancer that acted as a “double cure” because it contained a rare genetic mutation resistant to HIV
Advertisement