Budjerah, King Stingray & Thelma Plum Among 2023 NIMAs Finalists
The nominations for the 2023 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) have been announced.
This year’s NIMAs will be held at the Darwin Amphitheatre on Saturday, August 12th. The ceremony, sponsored by Amazon Music, will be broadcast on NITV. Cultural leader and Butchulla snowman Fred Leone and singer and writer Elaine Crombie will be on hosting duties.
Leading the 2023 finalists is ARIA-winning singer-songwriter Budjerah, who’s nominated for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Film Clip of the Year (“Therapy”).
In the prestigious Artist of the Year category, Budjerah will face strong competition from Jessica Mauboy, Mo’Ju, Kobie Dee, and The Kid Laroi.
Also in contention for three awards is rising Northern Territory band Wildfire Manwurrk, who will battle it out in the New Talent of the Year, Film Clip of the Year (“Lonely Bangardi”), and Community Clip of the Year (“Mararradj”) categories.
“We have walked a long hard road to get here over many years and feel so happy to be recognised for our music at this national level. To be recognised as one of Australia’s important Indigenous voices means everything to us,” the band say.
“Our music tells our story in our language, one of the oldest languages in this world. That language, it will help you connect to where you are standing. It will help us come together, where we learn from each other.”
You can check out the full list of finalists below. Tickets to the Darwin ceremony can be purchased here.
2023 NIMAs Nominations
Artist of the Year
Jessica Mauboy
Mo’Ju
Kobie Dee
The Kid Laroi
Royston Noell
Wildfire Manwurrk
Marlon X Rulla
Tjaka
Budjerah – “Therapy”
A.B. Original – “King Billy Cokebottle”
Thelma Plum – “The Brown Snake”
King Stingray – “Let’s Go”
Budjerah – “Therapy”
Miiesha – “Skin Deep”
King Stingray – “Let’s Go”
Yirrmal ft. Dami Im – “Promised Land”
Ngulmiya – Self-titled
Mo’Ju – Oro Plata Mata
Miiesha – Smoke & Mirrors
Beddy Rays – Self-titled
Utju Community – “Tjamuku Tjukurpa Kanyila”
Lil Youngins – “The Problem”
Indigenous Outreach Project w/ Gunyangara, Yirrkala & Dhalinbuy, NT ft. Yirrmal – “Indigenous Outreach Projects, Gunyangara, Yirrkala & Dhalinbuy ft. Yirrmal”
Garrthalala Community – “Garrthalala Manikay”
Dunghutti Community in Kempsey NSW – “The Black Truth – There’s Still Hope”