The Weeknd is a Grammy Award-winning music artist, most famous for 2016’s hit album (and title track), Starboy, his collaboration with other high-profile artists, and his unique sound. Before skyrocketing to superstardom, The Weeknd was introduced to fans by singer and rapper, Drake, who is famously from Canada, which might leave people wondering if The Weeknd is Canadian.
The Weeknd is Canadian. The singer was born and raised in the Toronto area, where he lived until dropping out of high school to pursue his music career.
Ethiopian Exodus and African Roots
The Weeknd was born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye on February 16, 1990. His parents were Ethipoian immigrants who had fled to Canada, where they had Abel and built a life in the Scarborough area of Toronto.
Abel’s parents, Makkonen and Samra, were born and raised in Ethiopia, an African country known for its coffee and the discovery of “Lucy.” Unfortunately, it’s also known for the famine and hunger crisis that rocked the country in the 1980s, with over 1 million deaths and many more citizens left to flee or be displaced.
In the wake of the famine and The Red Terror, where over half a million citizens were murdered for being a part of, or for having thought to have been a part of, a resistance movement against the government. Ethiopia in the 1980s was a dangerous place for its citizens.
The Weeknd’s parents chose to flee and wound up in Canada, settling in shortly before Samra gave birth in 1990. The Tesfayes ultimately separated, however, and Abel was raised by his mom and grandmother, having little contact with his father.
Toronto is the capital city of the Canadian Province of Ontario, and is also the largest city in all of Canada. It’s also the top destination for immigrants coming to Canada, much like The Weeknd’s parents.
Though The Weeknd was raised in Canada, he can speak fluent Amharic, the native language of Ethiopia. Despite having never visited the country, The Weeknd feels very passionate about his heritage, saying it has inspired him and is part of the reason for his distinct sound, noting, “That’s why I feel like my singing is not conventional. The feeling in my music and in my voice is very Ethiopian and very African and much more powerful than anything, technically.”
Toronto Troubles and Mixtape Mastery
Despite a stable home life, The Weeknd dropped out of high school to pursue his music career, moving out on his own. He also took up drugs, which at the time, he thought helped his creative process, saying, “When I had nothing to do but make music, it was very heavy. Drugs were a crutch for me. There were songs on my first record that were seven minutes long, rambling — whatever thoughts I was having when I was under the influence at the time. I can’t see myself doing that now.”
Regardless of the personal demons he faced, The Weeknd’s work paid off when he met an R&B producer, Jeremy Rose, with whom he worked in the early days of his career. Though The Weeknd and Rose would eventually have a falling out, The Weeknd recorded several songs that ultimately appeared on his self-released debut, House of Balloons.
House of Balloons was a huge hit with critics. The Weeknd had no record contract, he had simply uploaded the mixtape online and kick started his career.
Drake and The Weeknd
After the release, The Weeknd began performing at local clubs in the area. Superstar artist Drake, who had become a fan of The Weeknd’s, attended one of the shows, and the duo began collaborating, with Drake appearing on one of The Weeknd’s songs, and The Weeknd working on Drake’s album, Take Care.
The Weeknd would go on to sign a record deal, release four studio albums and collaborate with multiple high profile singers and rappers. His 2016 hit single “Starboy,” which featured the famed French electronic duo, Daft Punk, topped the charts and made The Weeknd a household name.
Heading Home
Though The Weeknd now calls Los Angeles (where he recently purchased a penthouse for $21 million) home, Toronto is still near and dear to his heart. When he was dating Selena Gomez, he brought the pop singer back home, where the duo visited his favorite spots around town.
You can see The Weeknd visit his childhood home in the YouTube video below.
Regardless of where his career takes him, The Weeknd has a strong affinity for his roots, and Canada played a large part in the trajectory of his career.