I Have A Dream
Nuff Said.
Solid Territory
A great friend of mine once said that he’ll listen to any music as long as it’s conscious. And I don’t reckon there’s any conscious music more real and true to spirit than the music of indigenous and grassroots resistance. All over the world there is music that unites the people and this part of our great earth is no exception.
Now is such an important time for the resistance to neo-colonial imperialism to be heard and heard loud. So I am so stoked to be supporting this tour about to shake the solid red earth in solidarity with the people of the Northern Territory. All of the bands who are performing on this tour are not only exceptional musicians but also have no fear in mixing the snares with the slogans.
So all of you in Austrayalia, see you at Solid Territory.
SOLID TERRITORY jams express solidarity for the Aboriginal peoples of the Northern Territory (NT)- in the spirit of Indigenous Self Determination and unity. It brings together conscious and creative crews to express solidarity given the recent military driven – land grabbing attack on Indigenous Self Determination.
Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Maori and other hip hop reggae crews join forces to express outrage at the recent ‘Trojan horse’ tactics of the Federal Government in Australia. Local crews join forces with hip hop legends Upper Hutt Posse, Revolution MC’s and Miss bMe coming all the way from Aotearoa/NZ!
Local mob include The Last Kinnection, Street Warriors, Wire MC, Nadeena Dixon, Honesty, Djaypun Inc, MC Liquid, The Whitehouse with interstate guests Zennith (Qld) One Blood Hidden Image (TSI) and Dizzy D (Qld). It promises to fire up some seriously solid hip hop and reggae flavours – true south pacific songs of solidarity.
BAND BIOS
Upper Hutt Posse.
The Posse’s in your face Maori activist lyrics are a breath of fresh air in a hiphop jungle obsessed with the blingbling, the Posse evoke heros of resistance from Malcom X to Maori revolutionaries who fought for indigenous self-determination against colonisation. No stranger to controvery head Mc Te Kupu tells it like it is …. Upper Hutt Posse have created their own sound.” Te Kupu is also a filmmaker, having traveled the ghettoes of the world to produce the rapumentary ‘Ngaatahi – Know the Links’ (Official Selection at Sundance Film Festival 2004), a six part music-documentary connecting the musical cultures and struggles of oppressed people worldwide
Revolution MCs
The REVOLUTION MCs are an Aotearoa hip-hop crew that fluidly mix superconscious flows with killa machine gun raps and the phattest beats, on a prophesised mission to take hip-hop and the native revolution to the next level.
The Last Kinnection
“I’m not gonna wait for the ok, I’m gonna do it even though they got too much to say, when it all falls down, tell me who’s still standing?”….. Introducing The Last Kinection. Take a look, have a listen, and you’ll agree, without a doubt, that TLK is the voice that’s going to keep you connected, with the next era of Australian urban music. Bridging mainstream and Indigenous, music and culture. Blending contemporary and traditional, they empower their listeners with respect for culture, truth and freedom of speech. Delivered with a clarity, originality and passion that’s undeniable, making their talents hard to surpass. Lyrically mind blowing with beats to match. A TLK performance will have you nodding your head, shaking your butt, throwing your hands up in the air, screaming ‘oh yeah’. Their latest recorded achievement can be heard on ‘Cannot Buy My Soul’, a tribute album to the legendary Kev Carmody, through EMI. Where their remix of ‘The Young dancer is Dead’, appears alongside the likes of Bernard Fanning, John Butler Trio, The Herd, Troy Casser-Daley, Missy Higgins and Archie Roach to name a few.
Street Warriors
Having performed both nationally and internationally in their previous group Local Knowledge, these brothers have rocked crowds in excess of 10,000 people. Street Warriors come straight out of the steel city of Newcastle with a rugged style, a deadly look and carry a second to none attitude wherever they go.
Combat Wombat
OZHIPHOP.COM: “[Unsound $ystem is] an ‘auralmentary’, recorded on the frontline in a heated battle between ignorant conservatives and the voiceless unknowns…the music acts as a slingshot for their verbal bullets is uncompromisingly creative, frequently brilliant and wonderfully broadens the current Aussie Scene. Verdict: 4/5″ – CYCLIC DEFROST: “DIY resourcefulness, independence and imagination. Indeed, while their political direction is indelibly strong, the crew’s message isn’t one of negativity or pessimism – it’s about being proactive and creative and their dub-infused hiphop excursions lend some weight to this…while plenty of MCs are willing to posit the ills of the world, not many are willing to get their hands dirty working on a solution.” – THE AGE: “What makes Combat Wombat special is that the band members not only talk the talk, they’re full-time political activists and squatters.”
Sandridge Band
Sandridge formed in 1995 playing for the first Lidjakarda Festival at Wandangnula Outstation near Borroloola. Their songs are a fusion of reggae, rock and metal sounds about land, culture, people and contemporary life in communities. They have more recently undertaken study at the Charles Darwin Contemporary Music Course and in performed at Tenant Creek Battle of the Bands Youth Week 2004 and 2005, 2004 Katherine at Music Without Humbug supporting Neil Murray, 2004 Borroloola Rodeo Battle of the Bands, 2005 Katherine Flying Fox Festival supporting Naberlak Band, Youth Week in Borroloola, supported Nomadics Band at gig at Youth Centre, Borroloola Rodeo Battle of the Bands. They are also committed to community gigs and have played many times at Borroloola Hotel and Sandridge Outstation. In 2006 they performed at Merripen Arts Festival, Festival Darwin and are winners of Barkly Bands comp and Barunga Festival Song Writing comp in 2007.
Nadeena Dixon
A vocalist, songwriter and performer, Nadeena’s musical style includes elements of Hip Hop, Soul, Reggae, Jazz, Indigenous grooves, Funk & Dance. Nadeena has a style and dedication that only comes from many years of artistic development. Nadeena’s powerful and beautiful voice take her audience on an emotional, spiritual and even political journey across the reality of Aboriginal existence Nadeena often performs with her mother to produce a beautiful Indigenous folk & contemporary music show for all occasions. Singing of identity, the land, the life and the dreaming of the Aboriginal people of Australia, the didgeridoo rhythms are used to drive the story telling.
Zennith
Australian ‘roots’ has finally matured, with the deepest reggae splash and funkiest urban swing that is Zennith. From the deep scrub of Bulwai country in Kuranda, Far North Queensland, emerges a sound that fuses skankin’ rainforest reggae with funky hip-hop. Zennith have been rippin’ up venues and festivals in the Tropical North with their roots/ska/urban combo. The group have just blown away audiences in Palm Island, the Laura Festival and Kuranda Roots Festival, and have just dropped their debut EP “We Got It”. The guys have supported Boney M and Ash Grunwald, and are working towards their first Music Video for “We Got It” and an East Coast tour in October. Zennith are the new future of roots and indigenous music from down-under, kickin’ stereo types and rockin’ dance floors.
Miss bMe
……..You see we all representing our own blood… solid foundations… droppin a beat to the nation… connecting back through our roots whakapapa inspiration… influencing thoughts waves… our musical infatuation… cos if ya here representin your own blood… dig ya hands in the dirt… remind your memories of birth…take a deep breath…. and know the seeds that you posess mean you are truly blessed……….
Wire MC
One Blood Hidden Image
Dizzy D
Djaypun Inc
Honesty
The Whitehouse
MC Liquid
Calling Australia Home
Well I don’t, but this crew who’ve been living here for about 80,000 years do. But apparently they don’t figure in the equation too often.
Check this video
Hat tip Ana
And like Rosa I say read this! Now!
I think I saw one land rights flag during the whole APEC ‘resistance’ and certainly didn’t read anything supporting the Tent Embassy crew, exept what they wrote themselves. Fucking dismal Seedney.
“The real wall exists in the mind, its made with stolen bricks and glued together with genocide.”
Language and Identity
Check out this very good (especially for a politician) article in the Sydney Morning Herald about Aboriginal languages.
I have often been asked about the difference between Aotearoa and Australia in terms of indigenous peoples and why it seems so much harder in Australia to organise against the colonialist oppressor.
The first answer I always give is language. In Aotearoa, tangata whenua have been able to begin to restore their culture primarily because there is the language to do it with.
The kohanga reo movement has been able to successfully revive the language in – now generations – of young people; Maori and Pakeha. Having one language has made this possible. Well, easier at least.
In Australia there is over 300 different languages. Not dialects but languages. It is very hard to support the education of these languages within a state school environment. And it would be equally hard to set up a language school movement like kohanga across Australia to support the learning of language in community.
But it’s not impossible. And it’s such an important thing to do. Considering how much Howard is spending on his NT Invasion I would much rather see that money invested in setting up language resources for young indigenous Australians.
Why is this so important? In Aotearoa, Maori is recognised as an official language. Government departments are obliged to have at least their name in te reo, and most will have bilingual versions of any public documents. There is a state funded national Maori language television station. There is a Maori language radio network across the country. And this is on top of the education that happens in schools where most schools of a decent size offer a full immersion stream.
The effect of this is that most New Zealanders are to an extent bilingual. I would say that even the most ignorant racist would be able to translate 20 basic words and phrases just because these words are in their face all the time.
We understand the world around us through language. It is how we can explain what we see, feel, touch and taste to our friends and family. It is how we share our perspectives of the world. Our kaupapa even.
So if the majority of Australians can’t even name more than a couple of aboriginal languages, how are they supposed to possibly understand any aboriginal worldviews?
I agree with Plibersek that from a linguistic point of view, Australia has a fascinating story. Yet this is a story that has been hidden from the people due to a political interest in white-washing HIStory. Because of course if people really knew what happened they would be more inclined to demand apologies and compensation.
But the real need for resources to be piled into funding language learning is for aboriginal people themselves. I will never forget the day at Camp Sovereignty hearing the story from one of the koori people there about the day that his kid started asking him questions about language and the complete heartbreak he felt trying to explain that he didn’t even know how to say hello in his own language.
There’s a world for that and it’s called genocide. When you deny a group of people the right to access their culture you are guilty of genocide.
Often I speak to Australians that understand there is injustice but struggle to see what they can do as non-indegenous Australians to support the end of colonisation. Other than protesting deaths in custody and Howards stupid bullshit, what positive things are there to support? If non-Indigenous Australians began to demand access to education resources for language for all Australians, then all Australians will benefit.
Of course this is not a magic bullet and there are many other things that urgently need to happen in this land, but it would be a bloody good start.
See ya Syd
I want to pay my biggest respects to the family and friends of Syd Jackson who passed away this evening. Syd is one of the most effective members of the Tino Rangatiratanga movement and is one of my heroes.
He will be sadly missed.
Hone goes Walkabout
Not content just calling John Howard a racist bastard Hone Harawira has just nipped up to Alice Springs to give a bit of solidarity to the mob up there. He was over here on the Justice and Electoral Select Committee exchange and took the opportunity to wag for a bit of good ol fashion resist the colonisers.
Awesome Hone. Tumeke.
To honour World Indigenous Peoples Day, Hone has stepped up the international condemnation of the latest Land Grab. The Greens have been jumping in a bit too. Frank de Jong had his say when he was here recently. And the kiwi Greens are still waiting for a response from the Australian Embassy to the letter they wrote.
Who else wants to get on board for some International pressure? Think it’s time the Wallabies got kicked out of the World Cup?
Democracy my ass
The Federal Government tabled their 400 and something page emergency bill to cover the “Intervention” in the Northern Territory. And they’re voting on it today.
So apparently all the politicians and the community will have enough time to read and thoroughly consider this bill before any decisions are made.
Whatever.
So for all of you who are as disgusted as I am about this colonialist crap which only seems to serve to take control of land back off Aboriginal People, you should wander over to the Democracy and Justice website and give all those pollies a bollocking.
Chur Hammy
Racism: What a Downer
So further to the tent embassy outside the National Party conference, there was a nice street party to welcome Alexander Downer to Aotearoa.
It was like “Gidday mate (you racist prick)”
It rained, but that didn’t stop the fun.
To be considerate to the protesters the media was banned from the speech so the protest made the news all over the place.
And as David Farrar reports, even Downer’s kids don’t like him
Referring to the protesters outside, Downer told of how once at a meeting he had 500 protesters outside screaming “Racist, sexist, anti-gay, Downer Downer go away”. He then got home that night after the TV news to be greeeted by his very young children chanting “Racist, sexist, anti-gay, Daddy Daddy go away”. It was obviously a catchy tune!
I wouldn’t tell people that.
Downer for Downer
A massive shout out across the ditch to the crew who camped out outside the National Party Conference to protest against Alexander Downer and the Australian Government’s Aboriginal Land Grab oop I mean Intervention… And to those involved in the other protest actions.
It’s been so awesome having such great actions across the Tasman for this issue. It’s sure been making a few Australians sit up and take notice. Of course they’re all used to Aboriginal People protesting about their rights, but that’s just normal isn’t it?
“say what’s that old chap?”
“yes Shane, the neighbours are all up in arms about us being dreadfully racist”
“tally ho? We’re not racist any more are we? We gave our natives the right to vote 40 years ago!”
“I’m not sure Shane, I think it’s got something to do with the fact that since we invaded this country, we still haven’t got around to asking to original owners if it’s actually alright that we live here. And we still haven’t said sorry for stealing all their land and trying to obliterate their culture. And we think it’s alright to continue stealing their land and obliterating their culture as long as we have a few tokenistic dancers at our international sporting events”
“Oh I say, I think I’m starting to understand. That is a bit rough.
But I don’t actually have to… do anything about it, do I Sid?”
“Oh no Shane, someone else will tidy it all up.”
“whew”
Art Is Activism – Yeah!
Documentary World Premiere at Carriageworks
Between the Lines: The Initiation of Adam Hill
Monday August 6 at 7:00pm
After two years following Aboriginal urban artist Adam Hill, Spanish film-makers Esther Lozano & Monica Garriga premiere their long awaited documentary which will be presented by Performance Space at Carriageworks next Monday 6 August.
Defined by a mixed indigenous and white origin, Adam Hill goes on an artistic and personal journey of identity through his music, paintings and political activism.
In what is a unique and intimate glimpse into Australia’s identity through the critical eyes of the art activist, this documentary shows Hill confronting his frustrations and his commitment towards his own Aboriginality while struggling with the views held by the society around him and the people closest to him.
“By exploring Adam’s personal history, this documentary highlights the controversy around Australian identity and suggests it is an open concept,” says film-maker Esther Lozano. “It is not defined by the place where one comes from but by what one identifies most strongly with. Adam’s contradictions and frustrations are not unique to him, or to Aboriginal Australians, or to Australians. They are universal.”
Bob his father, was brought up with his white cousins after his mother died, never having any contact with his aboriginal family. The stark contrast between Adam and his father’s social identity is a moving insight into the individual’s search for meaning in a world dictated by imagery and stereotypes. It is a documentary that hits a raw nerve for us all.
About the film-makers:
Monica Garriga is the foreign correspondent for the Spanish News Agency EFE in Australia and has a post-graduate degree in Australian Studies from RMIT.
Esther Lozano, prior to starting this documentary worked for the Spanish TV network Localia where she was a director of current affairs.
Performance Space @ CarriageWorks 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh
7pm Monday 6th August, 2007 – FREE