[ad_1]
They were five kids from Wilkania, a remote outback town on the westernmost tip of New South Wales, who rapped about their everyday lives, swimming, fishing and playing the didgeridoo.
But 20 years ago, they launched The Wilcannia Mob, pioneering Australian Aboriginal hip-hop music.
Band members included Rendall King, Keith Dutton, Colin “Colroy” Johnson, Buddy Blair and Wally Ebsworth.
Johnson is one of the last members still living in town.
“We were typical young people growing up down the river every day. [at the] Drop-in centers, doing our own thing and cruising on pushbikes,” he said.
Barkindji guy Johnson was just 10 years old when The Wilcannia Mob kicked off together.
“It feels like yesterday. It was me, but look at me now. I’m 30,” he said.
“This is me 20 years ago.
“Where’s the time gone? I have three daughters, a beautiful partner, whom I love all over the world.”
Origin of the Wilcanian Mob
Wilcannia Mob started as a shopfront theater project hosted by a local drop-in center to give opportunities to vulnerable youth.
People from all over the state, including Ku-ku Yalangii and Woppaburra man Brendon Adams, came to the outback town to help run the workshop.
“I was a dancer in Sydney and had a project going on in Wilcania because they had a lot of youth issues,” Adams said.
“At the time petrol tapping in remote communities across Australia was very high and they wanted to bring a positive program to Wilcania.”
The program included creating The Wilcannia Mob, made for fun.
But then they recorded a song called Down River.
“Each of the boys wanted their own version of their lives,” Adams said.
“You can hear them all talking about fishing and jumping and swimming, but it’s their culture and their identity within it.
“That’s why we’re here…to make them proud of who they are and their identity.”
It meant a lot to Johnson.
“At the time, I felt like I was being recognized…not just by the community, but by the West,” he said.
international attention
The song became popular throughout Australia in the 2000s.
It won Single of the Year at the 2003 Deadly Awards and placed 51st on Triple J’s Hottest 100 in 2002.
Hip-hop performers Morgan “Morganix” Smith and Wire MC helped form the band.
Now based in Cairns, Smith said his passion for hip-hop and community initiatives lives on.
He said The Wilcannia Mob’s music had a lasting impact.
Indigenous hip-hop music wasn’t played much because it wasn’t being made much at the time.
“I think a lot of other Indigenous people will stop completely when they come out… Hearing that, they’re like, ‘I can relate, yeah, that’s cool, I can tell my story now.’ , I can do my own thing,” he said.
“If they can do it, so can I.”
The Wilcannia Mob spread the Barkinji culture around the world.
Their song was discovered by British rapper MIA and led to a collaboration in 2007 called Mango Pickle Down River.
Smith put together grimy home-recorded songs for MIA’s album Kala.
“It opened my ears and minds to possibilities like, ‘Wow, I can take hip-hop and use hip-hop to tell a story,'” Smith said.
“They did it and were lucky enough to be featured nationally and internationally.”
Since then, there have been new adaptations of The Wilcania Mob through other community projects such as The Wilcania Mob: Next Generation, Riverdown featuring original band member Rendal King and other members of the Wilcania community.
However, the lack of continued support for the band made it difficult for the members to continue making music.
support the next generation
Adams moved to Wilcannia in 2003 to help provide more options for young people.
But he said opportunities may be difficult for indigenous peoples living in remote areas to find and pursue.
“Our culture cares for mobs, so we need to find opportunities to bring resources to remote communities,” he said.
“But then you miss your chance.”
He said more action is needed by the government to support young people in remote areas.
“As people in both state and federal communities, we need to turn it around,” he said.
“The moment we invest in our youth, we can develop them into leaders.”
He said increased investment in youth will help solve the problems facing some Indigenous Australians.
“You’ll start living a better life, taking pride, eating healthier, feeding your family, and breaking cycles.
“Unfortunately, I think we need to deliver more resources to Wilcania.”
“Keep pushing… seize the chance”
Johnson said he still has a passion for music and would love to see Wilkania Mobb get back together.
“I wish I could go back in time and continue and pick up where I left off…don’t think it’s set to fail,” he said.
“We should have kept the group together…if I ever get the chance to start the group again, I’m 100% all in. 100%.”
Johnson said Wilkania has many hidden talents.
“My message to them is to keep pushing … seize your moment and never give up on what you want to do.”
[ad_2]
Source link
