The Weeknd Donates $50,000 Toward New Ethiopic Studies Program

The Weeknd officially overtook Drake this weekend to become the new 6 God.

The Toronto Star reports that hometown-hero Abel Tesfaye has donated $50,000 to help establish an Ethiopic Studies program at the University of Toronto.

The Ethiopian-Canadian superstar whose hits include "Can't Feel My Face" and the BDSM anthem "Earned It" has been vocal about his Ethiopian heritage and the role it plays in his music which makes his gift to the new program more than fitting.

The Scarborough native, whose parents emigrated from Ethiopia, “immediately” answered the call from the Bikila Awards organization who said they weren’t even sure he’d respond to their request, but was surprised by his immediate generosity. (The Star could not reach Tesfaye for comment on Saturday.)

“It’s unbelievable,” Tam Gebeyehu, board member of the Bikila Award told the Star. “He grew up in Toronto as an Ethiopian-Canadian, and now he’s giving back to the community.”

The Bikila Award, named after Ethiopian Olympic hero Abebe Bikila who won gold twice running barefoot in the marathon in the 1960s, is an organization created to foster academic, professional and business excellence and promote volunteerism among Ethiopian-Canadians.