A.B. Original (Briggs and Trials), Kahl Wallis, Emma Donovan, Stanley ‘Gawurra’ Gaykamangu and emerging artists Rayella, Chris Tamwoy and David Spry are the first round of talent announced to play the NIMAs in Darwin on Saturday, 6 August 2016.
This year’s event sits side-by-side with a series of festivals and events celebrating achievement, held in the top end over the July-August period, including the NAIDOC Awards, Garma, the 33rd Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAAs) and Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair.
Furthering the period of celebrations in the Northern Territory, 2016 is also a year of historical milestones, with the 50th anniversary of the Wave Hill walk off celebrated during the Gurindji Freedom Day Festival in August, the 40th anniversary of the Land Rights Act and on the music front, 30 years since the release of Yothu Yindi’s landmark album Tribal Voice and 25 years since 'Treaty' topped the music charts.
Executive director of MusicNT and the NIMAs, Mark Smith says “This year’s NIMA’s coinciding with these important anniversaries will again shine a light on Indigenous music across the country.
"Music has stoked the fire and been a voice of protest for many years and what better way to recognize a year of milestones, than celebrating the strong history of Indigenous protest songs.”
Nominations for the NIMAs close on Friday June 17 and finalists will be announced in July.
