Gurrumul triumphs, rising star Gawurra wins four at NIMAs
Images: Gawurra
PerformersYirrmal & Witiyana Marika
Gurrumul Yunupingu took out Artist of the Year for the fifth time at last Saturday’s 12th National Indigenous Music Awards at the Darwin Amphitheatre. Wheelchair-bound and recovering from surgery in April, he had left hospital to pick up the award, and returned there immediately after.
But the night belonged to fast rising star Stanley ’Gawurra’ Gaykamangu with four wins – New Talent, Album for Ratja Yaliyali (Vine Of Love), Cover Art (designed by Jalyay JAJA Thompson) and Film Clip for Ratja Yaliyali. The latter, directed and produced by Pippa Samaya, was presented by actor Jack Thompson.
Gawurra who grew up in Milingimbi, a small island off the coast of Arnhem Land, now lives in Melbourne with his wife and daughter, accessing his music to a wider community. The 40-year-old also showcases his gospel-tinged vocals at The Age Music Victoria Awards on November 16.
Song of the Year was awarded to Briggs for The Children Came Back – featuring Dewayne Everettsmith and Gurrumul Yunupingu. Briggs told the audience he wanted to “pay respect … a tip of the hat, a homage” to Archie Roach, who helped inspire the song through his classic Took The Children Away. He also urged governments to see “what good can happen when they invest in kids and not prisons”.
The NT Traditional Song of the Year was awarded to Yirrkala NT-based Ishmael Marika for his song Two Sisters Journey. The Wäwilak (Two Sisters) story tells of the creation of the world and the establishment of rules, which govern behaviour, of the encounter between human and animal ancestors, who in the process make sense of their world and its creative forces.
The NIMA 2016 Hall of Fame inductee singer songwriter Kutcha Edwards, the Mutti Mutti man from Victoria who has served as a mentor and elder to his tribe for 30 years. One of the stolen generation, he alluded to the current scandal of alleged abuse at the Don Dale youth detention centre in Darwin, warning, “(It) is not only happening in the Northern Territory, it’s happening right around the country.”
Also announced at NIMA for the first time this year was the best Unearthed High entry from an Indigenous act. Tia Gostelow from Mackay will get ongoing mentoring from the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), as well as a song-writing workshop at their school by the APRA AMCOS Song makers program.
Music NT observes, “In remote Aboriginal communities film clips are powerful modes of communication. They play crucial roles in educating communities and delivering important messages of all kinds.”
This year’s National Community Music Clip was produced by the remote South East Arnhem Land community of Ngukurr. The community partnered with the Ngukurr School, White Ribbon Australia and Indigenous Hip Hop Projects to create a film clip and resource touching on the powerful messages of the White Ribbon campaign – Break The Silence.
The highly anticipated Protest Song segment kicked off before a large crowd with Melbourne artist Yirmmal and his father, the Elder Witiyana Marika [Yothu Yindi]. Father and son sang in a traditional dance (Bunggul) by members of the Rirratjingu Clan from N.E Arnhem Land in honor of the ’Father of Land Rights’ Roy Marika.
This was followed by a breathtaking rendition of They Took The Children Away by Alice Springs based Father and daughter duo Rayella. Then came Gawurra with his version of Solid Rock (joined by the song’s writer Shane Howard), and Kahl Wallis with the self-penned Children Of The Revolution.
Shellie Morris presented her new song Man Of The Land, inspired by old men losing their land due to bullying by the higher powers of society. She also joined newcomer and NIMA nominee [New Talent of the Year] Chris Tamwoy with a spiritually toned version of My Island Home.
NT artists David Spry presented Beds Are Burning, punk rockers Lonely Boys did Blakfella Whitefella, and YouTube sensations Djuki Mala (Chooky Dancers) did a specially choreographed dance piece to Yothu Yindi’s Treaty during which all the performers of the night joined.
“The power of music in protest was up on stage for all to hear at the NIMA’s,” commented Mark Smith, Executive Director of MusicNT and the NIMAs.
“Witnessing some of the countries leading indigenous voices bringing new light to seminal songs of protest brought home the continued relevance of those songs in the current political landscape.”
Other performers of the night included this year’s triple j Unearthed NIMA competition winner Kuren who opened the show and was followed by AB Original, Kahl Wallis, and Warren H. Williams with Danielle Young.
The NIMA Awards Ceremony & Concert was broadcast live through the Community Radio Network to a potential listenership of 1.2 million. The night, hosted by Catherine Satour was filmed by NITV for a two-hour program to screen on Saturday August 20 at 9.30pm.
This year NIMA aligned with the 33rd Telstra National Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Art Award (NATSIAA) and the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF to present a weekend of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander excellence.
NIMA 2016 winners
Artist of the Year:Gurrumul Yunupingu
Album of the Year:Gawurra
Song of the Year:The Children Came Back – Briggs
New Talent of the Year:Gawurra
Cover Art:Ratja Yaliyali for Gawurra
Film Clip:Ratja Yaliyali Gawurra
Community Music Clip:Break The Silence
Traditional Song of the Year:Two Sisters Journey – Ishmael Marika
Hall of Fame:Kutcha Edwards