A Song of Loss

If you read my blog, you know that I am a songwriter. Out of my passion for language preservation came the idea to put all the names of Australia’s lost indigenous languages into a song. This would be a way of remembering, valuing the linguistic heritage of Australia and bringing awareness to what is happening right under out nose, the languages that are dying ‘on our watch’ so to speak.

Then I came across this song (spoken text to music) by Bruce Watson and was surprised to find it does exactly that: listing the languages that collectively we have lost. For me it is a call to treasure what we do have and strengthen the languages that remain.

On my YouTube profile I have created a playlist with interesting videos on Indigenous Language Preservation from around the world. They are interesting videos, because the stories from around the world tell us that we are not alone on our journey of restoration.

Bob Randall “Brown Skin Baby (They Took Me Away)”

Garrangali win 2010 Indigenous Music Awards

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Northern Territories ‘Reggae & Roots’ band Garrangali has won best Album of the Year and best Song of the Year in the 2010 Indigenous Music Awards with their album ‘Garrangali (Crocodile Nest) and its winning song ‘Searights’ – beating singer Jessica Mauboy who was also a contender for the awards.

‘Searights’ celebrates the recognition of native title to the tidal zone & sea around Blue Mud Bay as established in the Supreme Court by ‘The Blue Mud Bay Decision’.

The band members mostly live in Yilpara (Blue Mud Bay) in Arnhem Land and sing in their indigenous Yolngu language. The album, which was launched in March this year, features the Yidaki (didgeridoo).