Keshia Chanté to host 2nd annual Legacy Awards honouring Black Canadian talent

A year after putting on Canada's first-ever awards show dedicated to Black talent, the brothers and co-founders behind it announced the Legacy Awards will return for a second time. 

Toronto born actors Shamier Anderson and Stephan James, who created organizing body the Black Academy in 2020, shared that the ceremony honouring Black achievement in film, television, music, sports and culture will take place on Sunday, Sept. 24. 

While last year's event was hosted by Anderson and James themselves, this year the ceremonies will be led by Canadian musician and TV host Keshia Chanté.

The Ottawa-born, Toronto-raised Chanté started her music career at 13, before winning a Juno Award in 2005. Following five Canadian Urban Music Awards, two Canadian Radio Music Awards and six more Juno nominations, Chanté moved to host BET's 106 & Park alongside rapper Bow Wow in 2013, as well as host for ET Canada.

"We often think about her, just as far as being one of our influences, as somebody we watched a lot growing up. And now we feel like we've almost grown up with her," James said in an interview with CBC News.

"We just figured what better way to continue the legacy of the Legacy Awards than, you know, to have somebody who embodies literally what this whole show is about."

Chanté said the opportunity to highlight Black talent in Canada, a resource that is often overlooked or only recognized in the company of international superstars, is the reason she came on board. 

"Building community and having community support you is huge. I now have a 20-year career in this business because of Canadians that have supported Canadians," she said. 

"We deserve to be celebrated … and this is celebrating Black excellence at its highest level. The Legacy Awards truly does that."

The awards are in the second year of a three-year contract with CBC. Last year's ceremony saw performances by Kardinal Offishall, Deborah Cox and an ensemble rendition of Andra Day's Rise Up by Melanie Fiona, Sate, Jully Black, Fefe Dobson and Alicia Mighty.

Sportscaster Kayla Grey, Haitian Canadian filmmaker Fabienne Colas, reality-TV star Ika Wong and Olympic medallist Andre de Grasse received awards. 

Anderson and James said this year will be a slight departure. While 2022's ceremony saw pre-announced winners honoured during the night, this year will fall more in line with traditional awards shows. Nominees will be revealed in the coming weeks, with final winners revealed the night of, alongside yet-to-be-announced performers.

"We have some incredible acts, confirmed recipients, honourees, presenters," Anderson said. "It's a beautiful work in progress and it's great to see it evolve."

While it will follow a similar structure to the first event, the brothers said handing the reins off to Chanté means even they are in the dark about how it will exactly shape up.