FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 6:00 PM
Rackham Auditorium

Democracy & Debate presents Emmy® award winning producer and multi-faceted artist, Mike Ellison with Detroit percussionist and producer D-Love for a live performance and interactive discussion: Song for Democracy.

Born in Ethiopia and raised in Reston, Virginia, Ellison fully realized himself as an interdisciplinary artist in Detroit. His music and spoken word draw from myriad life and cultural influences - and are imbued with the musical landscape and traditions of his birth country. His song “Ethiopia: Everything Will be Alright” became a national hit in Ethiopia in 2004 and his most recent music video “WEY FIKIR (Alleh)” addresses the war in Ethiopia raging for over a year through the lens of love and a romance.

Mike’s artistic expression moves beyond the realm of music. His acting credits span film, theater and television with recent appearances on 50 Cent’s STARZ series BMF and NBC’s Chicago Fire.

Driven by the power of art to inspire, inform and provoke dialogue, Mike’s music and words address a range of issues from social justice and civil rights, to the importance of community and collaboration. Join us for an exciting evening as Mike Ellison uses live performance, music and multimedia with Detroit percussionist and producer D-Love to engage with Song For Democracy.