Concert of Colors: 35th festival opens without its founder
DETROIT. Concert of Colors, the city's free world music festival, runs July 15 through 19 across Midtown venues including the Detroit Institute of Arts. It's the 35th year for the festival and the first since founder Ismael Ahmed died in January at 78. Cultural producer Njia Kai and Ahmed's wife, Margaret King-Ahmed, are running this year's event.
Sheila E. and Steel Pulse headline July 19, Steel Pulse at 7 p.m. and Sheila E. at 9:30 p.m. Hassan Hakmoun, Dengue Fever, Burnt Sugar Arkestra and Detroit's Don Was round out the lineup; Burnt Sugar Arkestra plays J Dilla's "Donuts" album in full on July 18. A tribute called "Celebrating Ish" starts at 11 a.m. that day at the DIA, with a Gabriel Brass Band procession and remarks from U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell and King-Ahmed.
"This is a gift to me," Kai said. "I just see myself as another person who was in his sphere."
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