Twelve-year-old Akuech loves rapping. She always has.
“It’s really fun,” she told SBS News. “Making up topics and then basing raps off of that topic is really fun. I like mixing up the words.”
Akuech is part of Girl Zone, a hip-hop band of five Melbourne girls aged 12 and 13, who have been invited to play at Hobart’s three-week-long Dark Mofo festival.
Girl Zone will play four shows across 21-22 June, the dates of which fall directly after World Refugee Day.
All the girls' parents are from refugee or migrant backgrounds.
Akuech, Achol, Zoe, Nyawech and Atong. Source: Instagram/only_girlzone1
“We saw the stage and it’s really big ... there’s going to be two whole levels of people. It’s going to be really fun.”
Three other band members - Achol, Atong and Nyawech - are also of Sudanese background. Another one of the girls, Zoe, has Vietnamese and Greek heritage.
L-R: Achol, Atong, Nyawech, Zoe and Akuech. Source: Instagram/@only_girlzone1
“The kids at my primary school never really listened to it before. But I changed my mind because of my mum. She listens to all the same music as I do now.”
Girl Zone began recording music together at an after-school program providing outlets for children from inner Melbourne's public housing estates to be creative. The program has undergone several transformations in the past few years and is now called Reach Youth Music Studios (RYMS).
Christobel Elliot watches on during a lyric writing session Source: Instagram: @ryms.thedrum
Girl Zone's first performances were at local block parties. They have since gone on to open for US hip-hop artists Noname and Tank and the Bangas at their Melbourne shows.
But none of the girls have played interstate before.
“I’ve heard Tasmania is really cold,” Akuech said.
Girl Zone performing at Brunswick Music Festival in March. Source: Instagram: @ryms.thedrum
A crowdfunding campaign to support the girls in being able to explore Hobart while they are there also raised just under $2,000 in a month.
Christobel Elliott, one of the girl’s volunteer mentors from RYMS, will be accompanying the band to Tasmania as one of two guardians.
“They are really excited and I am really excited for them. I think they’re going to smash it,” Ms Elliott said.
“I’m excited for them to experience the performance, but also just for them to go on holiday and see Hobart together.”
Girl Zone at Labassa, a Victorian-era mansion in Melbourne's Coburg North. Source: Facebook
Akuech said she is looking forward to “hiking, doing some cooking, and seeing waterfalls”. But Zoe has different priorities.
“I want to go to an all-you-can-eat buffet,” she said. “I love Vietnamese and Indian food.”
The girls all grew up together in Fitzroy, but as of this year began secondary school in different suburbs.
It has made it challenging to coordinate practice and performances, but Ms Elliott said it is worth the persistence.
“What the girls have told me is that it’s a way for them to connect as friends, especially now they’ve moved away,” she said.
“When they get up on stage and do their thing, even if they’re nervous beforehand, by the end, they want to do it again.
“Their confidence has always been there, but I see it growing the more they create and perform. It’s pretty amazing and inspiring to watch that.”
Girl Zone with Nyawech's older sister and group DJ, Nakia (very back) Source: Facebook
Akuech said she'd love it if Girl Zone could perform overseas one day.
“It would be really fun because it would be a different experience,” Akuech said. “It would be cool to explore other countries.”
Zoe agrees.
“I like to perform in front of lots of big crowds,” she said. “But, I feel like touring overseas and being famous might make it a bit harder to go shopping.”
Ms Elliott said the group “can go as far as they want”, but their main priority is finishing school.
“I always put the decision of what they want in their hands. I and others are there to facilitate that, but at the end of the day, it’s up to them,” she said.
“At this stage, it’s all about keeping it fun. Especially at this age, it should be about fun and gaining experiences in a secure environment.”
Dark Mofo runs 6–23 June
