Uncover
Brother Malcolm’s story through the music he loved
“Music, Brother, is ours—it is us—and like us it is always here—surrounding us—like the infinite particles that make up Life, it cannot be seen— but can only be felt—Like Life!!! No, it is not created—but like the never-dying Soul—eternally permeates the atmosphere with its Presence—ever-waiting for its Master—the Lordly Musician—the Wielder of Souls—to come and give it a Temple—mould it into a Song. Music without the Musician is like Life without Allah...both being in need of the house—a home—The Temple — the Complete Song and its Creator.”
(Page 4 of Malcolm X's handwritten letter to Sonny Stitt written while serving in Norfolk, Massachusetts)
DETROIT RED
ODYSSEY of Malcolm X
Sponsored and Hosted by DREAM of Detroit
February 8th, 2026
2 PM
Detroit, MI
Free admission with an optional donation $5, $10, or other.
Photo and Video Credit: Meriam Salem
@salemsnaps
Our Story
Composed by LuFuki and Destiny Muhammad, Detroit Red is a multidisciplinary production fused with the sonic expression of "jazz" inspired by Malcolm X's life and legacy. It highlights Malcolm X's significance not only for Black liberation but also for musicians who composed the sounds of Black liberation movements and their contemporaries. The original compositions will contain poetry, storytelling, dance, poetry, and music performed by a 10-piece ensemble of artists from Detroit and Oakland.
An oft-cited historical legend, Malcolm X’s legacy is often depicted through his important activism work; however, his love of “jazz” music and his aesthetics, what made him human, are frequently overlooked. Malcolm X often had jazz musicians open for him, and he frequented many jazz clubs as well.
Through panel discussions, workshops, and performance, Detroit Red is a program hosted by XRoads, one of LuFuki's ongoing research projects. XRoads explores the under-documented historical and contemporary intersections between the Golden Age of “jazz” and the Golden Age of Black Islam, with Malcolm X tying them together seamlessly. el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz, formerly known as Malcolm X, was a “jazz” lover, and the “jazz” musicians were deeply influenced by his uncompromising stance against injustice and oppression. Malcolm X had a significant influence on many Black "jazz" musicians and thought leaders during his time and after his assassination. Many of these musicians became spiritually and politically active in Black liberation movements, knowing that music can change the culture and catalyze social change.
Detroit Red is part of an ongoing conversation between LuFuki and Destiny Muhammad about the significant role Malcolm X had on the genre “jazz,” its historical impact,” as well as the significance the city of Detroit had on his life.
In March of 2025, with the support of GAMA, Gathering All Muslim Artists, we were able to produce the first iteration of Detroit Red in Oakland, CA for Malcolm X’s centennial birthday. And this February 8th, 2026 we are thrilled to bring the entire production to life and premier it in Detroit with the sponsorship and support of DREAM of Detroit!
Meet the composers
Destiny Muhammad
Destiny Muhammad is a Recording, Performing Artist, Band Leader, Composer & Producer. Her genre ̃Celtic to Coltrane is cool and eclectic with a feel of Jazz & Storytelling to round out the sonic experience. Destiny has curated concerts for Grace Cathedral Christmas Concert Series, SFJAZZ Tribute to Jazz Harp Legend Alice Coltrane, S F Symphony SOUNDBOX Series featured guest for GRAMMY Winner Kanye West ‘Sunday Service’, shared the stage with Jazz Masters Denise Perrier, Omar Sosa, and Blue Note Artist Ambrose Akisemuire, to name a few. She has headlined The Healdsburg Jazz Festival and Butchertown Jazz Fest Destiny is The Healdsburg Jazz Festival 2022 Artist in Residence a Guest Workshop Presenter for Amateur Music Network, collaborator with the Santa Cruz Symphony Harp Ambassador for the Awesome Orchestra Collective and The Marcus Shelby’s New Orchestra. Destiny is Governor Emeritus and Educational Chair Emeritus of the Recording Academy, ASCAP Songwriter Awardee, SFJAZZ Teaching Artist, Bay Area Jazz, and Blues Award Winner (BAJABA) and a California Arts Council Legacy Fellow.
Lufuki
Composer, mullti-intrumentalist, and curator in Detroit, LuFuki is focused on connecting hearts through sound in order to promote solidarity, freedom, and social action. He views music as a spiritual practice that brings about healing and unity. He formed afro-jazz collective, LuFuki and Divine Providence, and has released four albums since Inner Horizons, Elephants and Mountains, First Light, and Love&Light. LuFuki is also a Creators of Culture grant recipient from Culture Source as well as an IMAN-Arts Sacred Cypher fellow. LuFuki is currently working on several projects including, XRoads, a traveling exhibit on the history and impact of Black Muslims in Jazz, and Autophysiopsychic Millennium, a creative research-music collective to explore and experiment with the philosophy and music methodology of the great Dr. Yusef Lateef, which was featured at Carnegie Hall. LuFuki holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in Africana Studies and History and a Masters's degree from Wayne State University in Near Eastern Studies, specializing in the Arabic Language, and with a concentration in the literary genre of Tasliyah, praise poetry of the Prophet Muhammad.