The 15th annual National Indigenous Music Awards took place over the weekend in Darwin, with Baker Boy and Gurrumul winning two and three awards respectively.
A truly unforgettable album, Child of the Rainbow by Gurrumul was posthumously released in 2018.
The release of Gurrumul’s album swept the nation with its otherworldly soundscape and fusion of Yolngu culture and Western Tradition.
“As we all know, my nephew has gone and spread his stories throughout his songs.”
Gurrumul won three of the biggest awards of the night including; Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year for Djarimmi.
“[Gurrumul] went far away across the sea and he has shown the world that Indigenous people here today, we’ve still got a culture.”
Baker Boy, also known as the Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land, also had a huge night for the NIMA awards. He took home Best New Talent as awarded by Spotify and Best Music Video for his release Marryuna.
Baker Boy and Yirrmal closed the National Indigenous Music Award’s ceremony with his signature Yolngu Matha raps, choreographed dances and the traditional playing of the didgeridoo.
Other great performances of the night included Kasey Chambers and Alan Pigram, Stiff Gins, Yirrmal, Kardajala Kirridarra and the Kenbi Dancers were among the other performances.
Iconic Australian country singer Roger Knox was also inducted into the Hall of Fame on the night, noting the amount of young Indigenous talent rising to success in the Australian music industry.
“There are so many young people around today who’ve got so much talent. I’d like to see them use that talent not only to try and bring people together, to try to develop some sort of understanding so we can come together as a community.”
Winners
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gurrumul
SONG OF THE YEAR
Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Gurrumul – Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)
BEST NEW TALENT (Presented by Spotify)
Baker Boy
FILM CLIP OF THE YEAR
Baker Boy – Marryuna (feat. Yirrmal)
COMMUNITY MUSIC CLIP OF THE YEAR
B-Town Warriors – Thundercloud: Bourke
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Roger Knox
NIMA SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir
NT TRADITIONAL MUSIC AWARD
Buku-waṯthunawuy Nininyᶇu Rom – Ancient Languages New Sounds and Kenbi Dancers
Via ABC.
