WDET welcomes Kim Hunter as the new host of This Island Earth

By: WDET Staff

18 July 2026 at 15:59

When Ismael Ahmed signed off each week with the reminder that “we are all brothers and sisters on this Island Earth,” it wasn’t simply the closing line of a radio show. It was a philosophy that guided decades of his work as a broadcaster, community leader and one of Detroit’s great cultural bridge builders.

Following Ismael’s passing earlier this year, listeners have shared stories about how This Island Earth introduced them to new music, new cultures and new ways of seeing the world. His legacy lives on not only through the countless lives he touched, but through the enduring belief that music has the power to connect people across cultures, languages and borders.

Today, WDET is honored to announce the next chapter of that legacy.

Beginning Sunday, August 9, lifelong Detroiter Kim Hunter will become the new host of This Island Earth, WDET’s weekly journey through the music and cultures of the world.

For many longtime WDET listeners, Kim’s voice will be a familiar one. In the 1990s, he co-hosted Radio Free Earth alongside the late Ismael Ahmed, introducing listeners to music and conversations that celebrated Detroit’s rich cultural diversity and the traditions of communities around the globe.

Kim’s career has spanned work in Detroit’s auto and steel plants, television and radio production, and media relations for social justice organizations throughout Michigan. An accomplished writer, he has published two books of poetry and a collection of short stories and received a Kresge Literary Arts Fellowship in 2012.

“I’m grateful for the chance to rejoin WDET,” Hunter said. “And once again share music and culture from around the world and right here in Detroit.”

While the host may be changing, the heart of This Island Earth remains the same.

For decades, the program has celebrated the sounds, stories and traditions of cultures from around the world while reflecting the extraordinary diversity that defines metro Detroit. It’s a program rooted in curiosity, discovery and the belief that music can help us better understand one another.

At a time when our communities can often feel divided, This Island Earth continues to offer something increasingly rare: a chance to listen across cultures, discover new perspectives and recognize that we have far more in common than what separates us.

“One of WDET’s responsibilities is to reflect the incredible diversity of the communities we serve,” said Adam Fox, Program Director for WDET. “Metro Detroit is home to people from every corner of the world, and This Island Earth reminds us that every culture has a story worth hearing and music worth sharing. Ismael Ahmed built a program that connected people through curiosity, compassion and joy. While no one can replace Ismael, we’re honored that Kim Hunter will lead the next chapter of this remarkable program. Kim brings his own voice, a deep connection to Ismael’s legacy, and a genuine passion for the music and cultures that make Detroit such a vibrant place.”

Join us as we welcome Kim Hunter to This Island Earth beginning Sunday, August 9, airing Sundays on WDET 101.9 FM and streaming anytime at WDET.org.

The post WDET welcomes Kim Hunter as the new host of This Island Earth appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

The Metro: The Concert of Colors is creating new memories, honoring the past in 35th year

WDET 101.9 FM

By: David Leins

15 July 2026 at 15:54

The Concert of Colors is celebrating its 35th anniversary and commemorating Ismael Ahmed, who co-founded the event and passed away earlier this year. Building on a spirit of inclusivity and collaboration, the festival organization is now led by Njia Kai.

“One thing Ismael was clear about is that we are all brothers and sisters, and that we should all take care of each other,” says Kai.

Dozens of musical performers and bands from around the world join Detroit-area artists on the festival lineup including Sheila E, The Don Was Detroit All Star Revue, Dengue Fever, Charity Ward, Kasan Belgrave, Steel Pulse and Martha Redbone.

Beyond music performances and a memorial for Ismael, there will be a community forum at the Majestic Theatre Complex presented by the Arab American National Museum. The conversation will be led by NPR’s Neda Ulaby. There will also be a grant writing workshop, youth programming, and a story circle at N’Nambi Center for Contemporary Art.

“We get to bring in all these interesting cultural, contemporary traditions, folks who are following age-old patterns that are true to their ethnic history,” Kai says.

Njia Kai, Concert of Colors festival organizer, joined The Metro to discuss this year’s festival.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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