AfroFlow 2010 tour comes to Chicago in May, Mike-E releases 'AfroFlow II' CD

Courtesy of AfroFlow management, photo by Jeff Kaiser

Michael “Mike-E” Ellison—Pelle Pelle model, spoken word artist and American Cancer Society spokesperson—is returning to Chicago for the fourth annual AfroFlow tour. Mike-E and the music group AfroFlow will be performing in 11 locations in Illinois, including the cities of Chicago, Aurora, Evanston, Peoria, Rockford, Springfield and Waukegan.

AfroFlow’s 2010 tour includes Mike-E, vocalist Kenny Watson, DJ Invisible, percussionist Sowandé Keita, and a new edition, singer and bassist Pathé Jassi.

"There is new energy, growth and musicality from the core members of AfroFlow, Kenny Watson, DJ Invisible, Sowandé Keita and me," said Mike-E to Shamontiel, the Chicago News & Events Examiner. "Then we have new songs from 'AfroFlow II' that we love to perform, as well as original material from Kenny's forthcoming project."

One of AfroFlow’s biggest hits from their first CD is “Ethiopia (Everything Will Be Alright),” and the video shows African children and Mike-E's wife, Mezeker, singing and dancing along to the song. Mike-E, who was born in Ethiopia, takes special pride in that song and often brings up his trips to Africa during AfroFlow’s performances. Group members Sowandé Keita and Pathé Jassi are no strangers to the continent either.

"Pathé Jassi is a charismatic singer from Senegal by way of Detroit, who also plays bass guitar, upright bass and acoustic guitar," said Mike-E. "Kenny is also an accomplished singer and multi-instrumentalist. The two of them make a great combination. We now have professional Ethiopian cultural dancers joining the tour, too. They bring exciting elements of East African culture that most audiences have never seen."

Bob Ellison, Mike-E's manager and father, agrees.

"Expect a wider variety of musical presentations, greater energy and songs from his new CD, 'Afroflow II,'" said Bob.

Afroflow’s second CD, “Afroflow II," will be available for purchase this spring.

"I wanted to achieve musicality without sacrificing lyrical substance," said Mike-E. "The song, 'Stamina' is a good example. Thematically, 'AfroFlow II' further explores the African diaspora musically while covering a broad range of topics. The CD and video for 'Stamina' are both scheduled to come out some time this spring."

The American Cancer Society and clothing line Pelle Pelle are sponsors for the AfroFlow event. In the latest Pelle Pelle ads, viewers can see the entire group wearing clothes from the fashion line while hanging out in a music studio. Fashion and an anti-smoking message combined with song and dance bring the six-year-old group together.

"In the context of our mission with the American Cancer Society, which is also supported by Pelle Pelle, we want people to feel inspired and informed," said Mike-E. "Beyond that we just want people to enjoy themselves. First and foremost, we want people to come away saying, 'That was a great show.' Once you present art in a public forum it's not yours anymore. It belongs to everybody, and it's subject to individual interpretation."

Outside of AfroFlow, Mike-E is known for his anti-smoking commercials for the American Cancer Society. He was also a featured guest on Russell Simmon’s “HBO’s Def Poets” performing poems entitled “Light Skin Did" and "Mezeker means to remember."

The AfroFlow tour will start on March 23 at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, travel through 24 cities around the nation and end on June 19 (Juneteenth) in Des Moines, Iowa.

Illinois Tour Dates:

May 6, Thurs., Urban Prepatory Academy East Garfield Campus (3 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

"Bantaba" Drum Circle, Chicago State University (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.)

May 7, Fri., Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

May 8, Sat., Illinois Institute of Technology Concert, Herman Hall Auditorium (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

Northwestern University Relay for Life in Evanston (11 p.m. to 12 a.m.)

May 11, Tues., Aurora Community Outreach (time and location pending)

May 12, Wed., Evanston Community Outreach (time and location pending)

May 13, Thurs., Waukegan Community Outreach (time and location pending)

May 15, Sat., Evanston Technology High School Community Concert, ETHS Auditorium in Evanston (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

May 16, Sun., Chicago Walk & Roll Concert, Upper Hutchinson Field, Grant Park (11:30 a.m.)

May 19, Wed., Rockford Community Concert (time and location pending)