- Hello, friends.

Welcome to the Concert of Colors on "Detroit PBS," the city's largest showcase of global grooves.

Special thanks to WDET and Detroit PBS and all our other funders and supporters for making this possible.

My name is Ismael.

Settle in and feel the pulse.

This is the Concert of Colors Detroit, on Detroit PBS.

- [Announcer] Support for this program is provided in part by the Kresge Foundation, the Gilbert Family Foundation, the DTE Foundation, Zingerman's Delicatessen, the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, Mark Bernstein, and Rachel Bendit, and by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

Thank you.

(upbeat music) - I wanna take a quick minute to thank Ismael Ahmed.

He and I have known each other for many, many years, and I do wanna thank him for what he's done with the Concert of Colors.

(audience applauding and cheering) Give it up.

Yes, yes.

Yeah, and in addition, I wanted to thank him because our organization was also part of the Concert of Colors in the neighborhood, and so we were really fortunate to have a Latin music themed concert this past June.

And also part of that program, they sponsored the gospel music at Harper's Theater on the East Side, reggae music with the Redford Theater, middle eastern Music at the Arab American Museum, and the Vibes for the Tribes did tribal music at the Russell Industrial Center.

This support has really enabled our organization, MexicantownCDC, to achieve our goal in making our campus the Southwest Detroit.

Give it up, yes.

The Southwest Detroit Destination for art, business, and Culture.

I'd also like to say that the Concert of Colors, the team deeply believes that through music, food, and collaborative efforts, we can truly make this a better world for ourselves and our children.

(audience applauding and cheering) Give it up for them, please.

(audience applauding) So make sure you continue to support all of these organizations, the people that make this possible, the groups, the organizations, the corporates, everybody that's pledged dollars to make this happen.

And don't forget our dear friends at WDET.

Give them a hand.

(audience applauding and cheering) So now onto the performers.

While many communities are craving strong female role models, the power that Eljuri generates on stage is undeniable.

Ecuador born and New York City bred Cecilia Villar Eljuri is an award-winning Latina singer songwriter, and an ace guitarist.

Her original music powerfully fuses elements of rock, reggae, and world rhythms with a soaring guitar in an impactful, socially relevant lyrical content.

She's a longtime musical ambassador for civil rights and the environment, and she turned her focus in 2024 to inspiring social activism among young audiences, launching the Eljuri Concerts for Democracy, in tandem with three national voting organizations and touring with their powerful trio, enlisting new voter registration in various major markets.

She was also one of the original organizers of the massively successful women's marches in New York City.

Her critically acclaimed albums have consistently appeared in the top 10 on indie, college, world beat and Latin radio in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

She has been featured on PRI, NPR, Pacifico Radio, Voice of America, NBC Latino, La Jornada, Revista Kuadro, and the, "Women in Rock," documentary.

Eljuri is set to release her sixth audio album in August of 2025 entitled, "Asi es el Mundo" "This is the Way of the World."

Ladies and gentlemen.

(speaks in Spanish) Let's give Eljuri a great Detroit round of applause.

(audience applauding and cheering) - The honor of being here in such a special place that celebrates diversity.

I can't tell you how powerful the Concerts of Colors what that represents to somebody like me.

I'm an immigrant as Ray mentioned.

My mother's from Lebanon, my father from Spain, but I was born in Ecuador and raised in New York City, which is also multicultural.

I have a lot of.

But now to be here in Detroit, one of the most amazing cities with such a history of music.

(audience applauding and cheering) Playing original music to all this wonderful audience in this incredibly beautiful space that has been renovated and taken care of, really, truly is, we are blessed.

The three of us are blessed.

- [Band Member] We're gonna start with, "Paloma," right?

- This first song is a song about how you can let your ideas take flight.

Let them soar like a dove, like a paloma.

This is, "Paloma."

(Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) Help me out, come on.

(claps) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) Gracias.

(audience applauding and cheering) And the next one is a brand new song that's not even out yet, so we're debuting it here tonight.

The record comes out August 11th.

(audience applauding and cheering) So we're really excited to play it here for you.

First time out of the gate, this is, "Brisa."

(upbeat music) (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (audience applauding and cheering) Gracias.

We have yet another new one, right, Winnie?

- [Winnie] What's that?

- Another new song.

- [Winnie] We got what?

- I mean, the next one.

- [Audience Member] Woo.

(Eljuri chuckles) - So, this is an anti-war song.

(audience applauding and cheering) You know what I'm talking about?

It had to be on the new record.

I'm a socially conscious songwriter.

And this, the name of the song is, "In Search of Peace."

And we have to stop the madness.

This is, "En Busca de La Paz."

(audience applauding and cheering) (upbeat music) (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) ♪ Stop the wars and the fighting machine ♪ (Eljuri singing in Spanish) ♪ Stop with the hating regimes (Eljuri singing in Spanish) ♪ Stop the wars and the fighting machines ♪ ♪ Stop ♪ Stop with the hating regimes ♪ Stop ♪ Stop igniting and dividing ♪ Stop ♪ Stop the wars, stop, stop the fighting ♪ ♪ Stop, stop the hate ♪ Stop (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) ♪ Stops the wars and the fighting machines ♪ (Eljuri singing in Spanish) ♪ Stop with the hating regimes (Eljuri singing in Spanish) ♪ Stops the war and the fighting machines ♪ ♪ Stop ♪ Stop with the hating regimes ♪ Stop ♪ Stop igniting and dividing ♪ Stop ♪ Stop the wars ♪ Stop ♪ Stop the fighting ♪ Stop ♪ Stop the hate ♪ Stop (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) ♪ Stops the wars and the fighting ♪ ♪ Stop ♪ Stops the hate and the fighting ♪ ♪ Stop ♪ Stop the wars and the fighting ♪ ♪ Stop ♪ Stop igniting and dividing ♪ Stop ♪ Please ♪ Stop ♪ Please ♪ Stop igniting and dividing ♪ Stop ♪ Please stop ♪ Stop ♪ Please stop ♪ Stop (upbeat music continues) ♪ Stop (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (audience applauding and cheering) Gracias.

All right, this next one is an oldie but good.

This is, "Una Ola."

- One, two.

(upbeat music) You could dance in your seat.

(chuckles) (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (audience applauding and cheering) Gracias.

So I'm gonna take a minute to thank everybody who brought us here.

Actually, let me introduce you to my band mates first, and then thank everybody.

So we've been together a long time and we're really excited to launch this new record, but we're really excited to tour behind it and bring these songs to life for wonderful people like you.

On my left is the incredible (chuckles) Winston Roye on bass guitar, vocals, and just an overall incredible human being.

(audience applauding and cheering) And.

(speaks Spanish) From Cali, Columbia to New York, and now here to Detroit.

- [Audience Member] Woo.

- [Audience Member] All right, viva Colombia.

- Viva Colombia.

(audience applauding and cheering) - Hey, what about you, Winnie?

(speaks Spanish) And that's Mr. Senor Alex Alexander.

(audience applauding and cheering) - Vaya, gracias.

- So now let me also take a minute to thank Ismael and all the incredible people around this glorious event, Concert of Colors.

Everybody who's involved from, you know, our friends on stage, off stage, everything, coordinators.

So, and big round of applause to all those incredible people that put this amazing concert together.

(claps) (audience applauding and cheering) Concert series, festival.

I want to thank Alexandra Gatje from Manovill Records, who's somewhere here who gets us all.

(phone rings) Is that for you?

(chuckles) Alexander Gatje from Manovill Records, we wanna thank her too.

(claps) (audience applauding) And dedicate the song to all of you, because without you and your ears, we have nobody to play for, so it's all about you.

This is, "PorTi."

- One, two, three, four.

(upbeat music) Come on, everybody, dance.

(Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) Take it out.

Come on.

- Watch yourself.

(Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) ♪ Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on ♪ (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (Eljuri and Winston clapping) - Shake it.

- Let's hear it, woo.

- Clap your hands, yo.

(Winston continues singing in Spanish) (audience claps) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) - One more time.

(Winston continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) Bravo.

(audience applauding and cheering) This next song is from our very first record many moons ago about what a dangerous world we live in.

And it's still true today, even more so.

So this is why it's, I propose to play it.

This is, "Peligrosa."

- [Alex] One, two, three.

(upbeat music) (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) Oh, now, now I need a little bit of help.

Put your hands up in the air, if you don't mind.

Now we're gonna clap to this Afro-Cuban rhythm, along with el maestro.

♪ Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah ♪ Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah (audience claps) (Eljuri speaks Spanish) Now I'm gonna sing to you and you're gonna sing it back to me.

You're gonna a little Spanish lesson, and many of you know, know this.

(Eljuri sings in Spanish) (audience sings in Spanish) (Eljuri sings in Spanish) (audience sings in Spanish) (Eljuri sings in Spanish) (audience sings in Spanish) (Eljuri sings in Spanish) (audience sings in Spanish) - [Eljuri] Great.

All right, now even louder.

(Eljuri sings in Spanish) (audience sings in Spanish) (Eljuri sings in Spanish) (audience sings in Spanish) (Eljuri sings in Spanish) (audience sings in Spanish) (Eljuri sings in Spanish) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) You guys are awesome.

(Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri speaks Spanish) (audience applauding and cheering) Bravo.

(audience applauding and cheering) You're an amazing audience.

So this is a song about how we need to save the earth.

(Eljuri speaks Spanish) (audience applauding) It's from our last record.

This is , "Salva la Tierra."

(upbeat music) (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) We gotta save the earth.

Put it first.

(upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (audience applauding and cheering) This next song is a very personal song because it's really dedicated to all the immigrants, all the refugees, all the asylum seekers.

(audience applauding and cheering) And it's what the name of the album is.

And really for the children of the immigrants, the asylum seekers, the refugees, it's dedicated to them especially, and all the people who put their hand out to help and be kind.

We need to unify.

This is, "Asi es el Mundo."

(audience applauding and cheering) - One, two, three.

(upbeat music) (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) ♪ We need to put an end to this ♪ ♪ For the children ♪ We need to put an end to this ♪ (upbeat music continues) ♪ End to this ♪ For the children ♪ End to this (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) ♪ For the children (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) ♪ We need to put an end to this ♪ ♪ For the children ♪ We need to put an end to this ♪ ♪ For the children ♪ We need to put an end to this ♪ ♪ For the children ♪ We need to put an end to this ♪ (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (audience applauding and cheering) Thank you.

This next song is about using your voice.

Everybody's got a voice and be kind to your neighbor.

That's really the message behind the song.

This is, "La Voz."

- One, two, three.

(upbeat music) (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri continues singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (audience applauding and cheering) Gracias.

So we're gonna play you a song from our third album.

This is an anti-gun violence song.

This is, "BangBang."

(audience applauding) (upbeat music) (Eljuri singing in Spanish) ♪ Somebody yelling "don't shoot me!"

Bang bang ♪ ♪ Somebody yelling, too many yelling, bang bang, shoot em up ♪ ♪ Somebody yelling "don't shoot!"

Bang bang ♪ (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) ♪ Bang bang shoot em up, detente ♪ ♪ Bang bang shoot em up, detente ♪ (Eljuri singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) ♪ Somebody yelling "don't shoot me!"

Bang bang ♪ ♪ Somebody yelling too many yelling, bang bang shoot em up ♪ ♪ Somebody yelling "don't shoot!"

Bang bang ♪ (Eljuri and Winston continue singing in Spanish) (upbeat music continues) ♪ Bang bang shoot em up, detente ♪ ♪ Bang bang shoot em up, detente ♪ (Eljuri claps) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) ♪ Brussels, Hebron, Oakland, Ferguson, Nairobi ♪ ♪ Konduga, Medellin, Roseburg, Karachi, Paris, Charleston ♪ ♪ Dunblane, Ft.

Hood, Washington DC, Santa Monica ♪ ♪ Newtown, Isla Vista, Baltimore, Oslo, Brookfield, Aurora ♪ ♪ Tucson, Omaha, San Bernardino, Gamboru, Ngala ♪ ♪ Juarez, Tel Aviv, Seattle, Mumbai, Blacksburg, Cumbria ♪ ♪ Oak Creek, Seal Beach and Minneapolis, Kanjiza ♪ ♪ Marysville, Colorado Springs, Columbine, Beslan ♪ ♪ And Detroit (upbeat music) (audience cheering) ♪ Exodus ♪ Movement of my people ♪ Exodus ♪ Movement of my people (upbeat music continues) ♪ Get up, stand up ♪ Stand up for your rights ♪ Get up, stand up ♪ Don't forget the fight ♪ Get up, stand up ♪ Stand up for your rights ♪ Get up, stand up.

♪ Stand up for your rights Come on.

(claps) ♪ Get up, stand up (audience claps) (upbeat music continues) ♪ Stand up for Here in Detroit, Michigan, we're rocking.

♪ Get up, stand up ♪ Don't give up the fight ♪ Get up, stand up ♪ Stand up for your rights ♪ Get up, stand up ♪ Don't give up the fight ♪ Never give up the fight ♪ Don't give up the fight ♪ Never give up the fight ♪ Don't give up the fight Gracias, we're Eljuri.

(audience applauding and cheering) - You're amazing.

- Let's give it up for Eljuri.

(Eljuri speaks Spanish) All right.

(audience continues applauding and cheering) - [Announcer] Support for this program is provided in part by the Kresge Foundation, the Gilbert Family Foundation, the DTE Foundation, Zingerman's Delicatessen, the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, Mark Bernstein and Rachel Bendit.

And by contributions to your PBS station from viewers like you.

(Eljuri singing in Spanish) Thank you.

(bright music)