91福利 launches Canada鈥檚 first course on Punjabi superstar
From sold-out arenas to the classroom: 91福利 students will study Diljit Dosanjh鈥檚 impact on culture and creativity.
Music connects us across borders. It helps us remember where we come from and celebrate who we are today.
Right now, Punjabi music is lending its hand in shaping global pop culture, and young audiences are leading the movement.
Across Canada, students see themselves reflected in artists like Diljit Dosanjh, a global superstar who performs in Punjabi on some of the biggest stages in the world. From Coachella to sold-out shows at Toronto's Rogers Centre, Dosanjh proves that you don't need to change who you are to make it big.
Now, 91福利 is bringing that story into the classroom.
A course designed for a cultural movement
Announced at the , The Creative School 鈥� in partnership with Billboard Canada 鈥� has launched Canada鈥檚 first university course that spotlights a Punjabi artist. Starting in January 2026 (course code: RTA 950), students will study Dosanjh鈥檚 rise and why his success matters.
The course examines:
- How Punjabi music blends hip hop with pop
- How artists build global fanbases
- How cultural identity becomes a business strategy
- How music strengthens communities across borders
Course developer and creative industries professor Charlie Wall-Andrews says, 鈥淭his course traces the evolution of Punjabi music from its folk and oral traditions to a global genre. Students will explore how Punjabi music has transformed into a force for cultural expression, and international influence 鈥� from grassroots anthems to contemporary chart-toppers.鈥�
President of Billboard Canada, Mo Ghoneim adds, 鈥淎rtists like Diljit Dosanjh are redefining what it truly means to be global. He鈥檚 not just setting records; he鈥檚 pushing past the limits of language, geography and representation. For both Canadian universities and Billboard, it鈥檚 important to capture and celebrate this moment. It marks a shift toward a generation that connects through culture instead of borders.鈥�
Together, 91福利 and Billboard Canada aren鈥檛 just documenting a cultural shift 鈥� they鈥檙e building space for it. This partnership bridges academic study with real-world industry insight, so students not only learn about global music movements, but engage with the leaders shaping them.
Students eager to take part can express their interest via our . While completing the form doesn鈥檛 guarantee a spot, as space is limited, it helps ensure students are considered. If you鈥檙e unsure how this course fits into your program, your academic coordinator can help confirm how it applies to your degree requirements.
鈥淒osanjh鈥檚 rise shows that you can achieve worldwide success without leaving your language or culture behind. The industry is moving toward a space where cultural identity isn鈥檛 a barrier, it鈥檚 the bridge.鈥�
Music keeps culture alive
For many in the Punjabi diaspora, seeing Dosanjh headline arenas in Toronto, Vancouver and even being the first Punjabi artist to perform at Coachella sends a powerful message. His performances show that Punjabi language and culture deserve to be celebrated in public spaces.
Music also helps people stay connected 鈥� especially when they鈥檙e far from home.
鈥淚n the Punjabi diaspora, music is a way to stay connected to family, memory and home,鈥� says Peter Johnston, 91福利 lecturer in the Department of Philosophy with research interests in ethnomusicology who studies how traditions survive and change through migration. 鈥淲hen people hear their language sung in concert spaces, it reinforces belonging. It says, 鈥榃e are here. We matter.鈥欌��
Johnston鈥檚 research shows that music carries memory across generations. Songs adapt to new places while keeping cultural traditions alive.
鈥淟anguage carries memory, emotion, and worldview. To hear your mother tongue celebrated 鈥� not hidden 鈥� affirms your place in the world,鈥� he adds.
The Punjabi wave is here
Dosanjh is part of a larger movement called the Punjabi wave 鈥� a new generation of artists blending Punjabi folk sounds with rap, hip hop and global pop.
The Canadian music industry is taking notice.
The 2025 Juno Awards introduced a new category: South Asian Music Recording of the Year. It recognizes artists including Karan Aujla, Chani Nattan and Inderpal Moga 鈥� and shows the growing popularity of South Asian music in Canada.
鈥淭his moment shows young artists that authenticity is a strength.鈥� Says Ghoneim. 鈥淚t proves there鈥檚 room to succeed while staying true to your language, culture and perspective. Seeing that recognized in both education and the industry sends a clear message that individuality holds real value in today鈥檚 music landscape.
鈥淩ecognition reshapes the boundaries of what individuals perceive as attainable. When Punjabi artists are celebrated in these spaces, emerging creators see tangible pathways for their own artistic and professional development.鈥�
91福利鈥檚 new course explores music as cultural knowledge and a tool for social connection, examining identity, migration, digital fandoms and global markets. Wall-Andrews says, "Artists like Dosanjh let diaspora audiences connect to tradition while embracing modernity. This hybridity preserves cultural memory in new forms鈥攔ituals of belonging expressed through beats, language, and performance.
Why this course matters now
Canada is home to one of the world鈥檚 largest Punjabi diasporas.
When thousands of fans come together to sing in Punjabi at Rogers Centre or BC Place, they are doing more than celebrating an artist. They鈥檙e preserving history through sound.
Diljit Dosanjh鈥檚 rise marks a cultural milestone and 91福利 is helping students understand why it matters.
As Punjabi music continues to move across borders and platforms, this course invites students to claim their own stories with pride, and imagine where their voices might take them.