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Pelindah umutoni
Pelindah Umutoni
Creative Director

About me

Creative Director/ Producer | Singer & Songwriter | Filmmaker.

My artistic practice is rooted in storytelling across film, music, and live production, with growing focus on filmmaking as a tool for documentation, reflection and social impact. I create work that explores identity, migration, culture, and lived experiences of BIPOC communities, particularly through a contemporary and honest lens.

My creative journey started at eight years in Uganda, composing songs and holding living room concerts for my family. Though I didn't understand what it meant to be an artist, art was my most comfortable form of expression.

My storytelling journey came to life in high school. While trying to make sense of strong emotions, I wrote my first play on love and hate and how there’s a thin line between both. The play was produced and staged by my literature teacher, Mr. Ssebunnya. Seeing my work come to life was one of my many defining moments in the arts and showed me that storytelling has the power to move people and create reflection.

At university, I continued honing my skills, studying during the day and performing at events at night. The persistence to create gave me a strong artistic voice that propelled me onto big stages in Uganda like Blankets & Wine, Pearl Rhythm Festival, Sofar Sounds Kampala, Akadope live sessions, etc. In 2019, I represented Uganda in the World Youth Vision singing competition in Azerbaijan. My experiences with the different platforms instilled discipline, presence, and an intuitive understanding to connect with audiences through story and sound, teaching me that art is both deeply personal and shared.

I moved to Canada in 2022 and continued to create with intention. Art made room for me to perform across spaces including Pride Toronto, YYZ Live 2025, Sunshine Centers for Seniors, People With AIDS Foundation, The African Centre for Refugees Ontario, etc. This experience helped me evolve thus the release of my first EP in 2024 titled True Intentions, with songs played on music 311 program and Canadian radio. Working on this project as a singer, songwriter, and creative director further freed the storyteller and leader within.

Based on my experience as a black newcomer navigating the creative space in Canada, I co- founded Voices of Our Roots, a production company in its early stages centered on storytelling, community building and access. Through this platform, I have worked with a team to execute initiatives like Empowering BIPOC Artists event, co-created the Art & Culture Roundtable where I directed a short film preserving artist voices and perspectives. I co-created, and host Second Shuffle Podcast, where we engage in dialogue on career transition, reinvention, and structural realignment within BIPOC communities.

My work in film has become more defined through my recent documentary After I Arrived, currently in post production, which I created and directed. It explores lived experiences of African immigrant creatives in Canada.

Visual storytelling is at the core of my practice, and film has allowed me to bring together writing, music, and emotion coherently. I see myself working on powerful storytelling projects in the near future, and I’m excited to deepen my craft and keep building meaningful work. If my work resonates with you, I’d love to connect and explore opportunities to create together.

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Pelindah umutoni