Now living in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Tumelo "MELO-T" Ponalo has been pioneering African Electronic Dance Music in Canada for over a decade with shows across Canada and many other different countries on different continents, and recently performing at Ottawa Bluesfest, the largest festival in Canada and the second largest blues festival in North America. 

 

His For the Culture 2 EP released in 2021 reached critical acclaim within the music community heavily inspired by amapiano and afro house, with write ups and features from, Earmilk, The Pan African Music Magazine, Music Crowns, The Music Essentials, CelebMix and many more. Drawing inspiration from South African DJ Black Coffee and Zimbabwe’s Oliver Mtukudzi and many other African Electronic Dance Music pioneers, MELO-T’s music embraces a variety of distinctly unique genres into one pure and melodic sound known as “afro fusion or afro dance music,” which combine afrobeats, amapiano and afro soul. 

 

MELO-T’s unique artistry has also been recognized as a significant contribution to Canada’s cultural landscape, with recognition and funding from Canada's Art Council, Ontario Arts Council and Ottawa Arts Council, recognizing and acknowledging his contribution to the Canadian music scene especially in the electronic afro dance scene, which includes promoting and hosting African dance music power houses such as Mi Casa (RSA), DJ Manoo, Djeff Afrozilla and many more!