Moore County native Eli, a self-termed Fusion R&B recording artist based in Atlanta, GA, just returned from Costa Rica where she was one of the few chosen to perform for their first World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture. The event took place on January 24 in the country’s capital, San Jose.
Eli’s manager, Mary Grace was contacted by another recording artist, Drake Murphy who is based in Los Angeles (and another artist from Moore County) about Eli being pitched as one of the selected acts along with himself.
Grace spoke with Eli and of course, they wanted to make this happen. A short time later, it was confirmed with Grace that Eli was selected by Co-Coordinator and Producer of this event, Sophia Morris, daughter of Stevie Wonder.
Moore County native Eli performing at Costa Rica’s 1st World Day for African & Afrodescendant Culture. Courtesy photo.
Eli departed with recording artist AyeKPlayDat (another talent from Moore County). She performed in two locations and returned to North Carolina to spend time with family before heading back to Atlanta.
On the first night there, she went to the home of Esther Kuisch Laroche, UNESCO representative where there was a welcome gathering for all the artists involved and a group of diplomats including USA ambassador, Sharon Day and Costa Rica’s first vice president, Epsy Campbell Barr.
In this setting, she was one of the few artists to perform and she pulled out of her formal Jazz vocalist background to perform her rendition of Misty with one of Stevie Wonder’s band members.
On the 24th, Eli first performed an acoustic set joined by Drake Murphy on the guitar in the afternoon at the city’s staple amphitheater at the CENAC. She followed this performance with another one in the evening utilizing her show tracks on an epicly designed stage at La Aduana Theater. Each performance was nationally televised.
She performed her songs, Paradise, Georgia Peach, Wavy, and Black Diamond (to be released February 2020). Aside from Black Diamond, all these songs are available on streaming platforms and online stores for your listening pleasure.
“It makes me proud to be Black, and it was an honor to be chosen to go overseas to share my talent through this platform. It was beautiful to further see the diversity within our African community on this global level. I even had some officials ask me to do a return performance which I definitely plan to do”, says Eli.
You may connect with Eli via social media on Instagram: @eliofficialmusic. She is also known as an actress, model, voiceover artist, Jazz vocalist, and avid Yogi going by the stage name, Anna Elizabeth. You may connect with her IG account for these roles: @annaelizabethent.
Courtesy photo of Eli’s welcome party.
Contributed
