Australia’s biggest celebration of First Nations music, the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) has just wrapped up its celebrations of another massive year in Australian music tonight at Darwin’s iconic Ampitheatre, with Baker Boy and Mojo Juju bringing home the big awards.
Baker Boy walked home with the Artist Of The Year award, which follows his success as Young Australian of The Year. Leading a new generation of Indigenous musicians with his infectious and undeniably catchy hit singles ‘In Control’, ‘Cool As Hell’ and ‘Mr La Di Da Di’, he also took to the stage for a surprise performance of his enchanting single ‘Black Magic’ during triple j Unearthed winner Dallas Woods’ set.
Watch the joyous and effortlessly fun video for Baker Boy’s ‘In Control’ below:
Mojo Juju was the night’s other big winner, taking some the Song of the Year and Album of the Year awards for her incredibly defiant and undeniably epic project Native Tongue.
The title-track was the recipient of Song of the Year, and tells a story of loss, anger, refusing to apologise and yearning for connection to traditional culture and language, a sentiment that is echoed in the United Nations’ Year of Indigenous Language.
Watch the captivating and furious video for Mojo Juju’s ‘Native Tongue’ below:
Other winners include Kaiit, who’s impressive debut EP Live From Her Room, her latest single ‘Miss Shiney’ and live successes landed her New Talent Of The Year. Film Clip Of The Year went to Briggs for the hilarious ‘Life Is Incredible’, and Community Clip Of The Year went to Deni Mob’s community strengthening ‘State Of The Heart’.
Also honored with induction into the NIMA Hall Of Fame were folk trio Tiddas and pioneering Cairns jazz singer Wilma Reading.
The night also featured performances from the likes of Uncle Archie Roach, Darwin royalty Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan, a rousing show from Hall Of Fame inductee Wilma Reading and triple j Unearthed winner Dallas Woods, just to name a few.
This year’s NIMAs was not only a great concert and celebration, but also carried forward the air of community between artists and the public, cementing the feeling that First Nations music is no longer a genre, it’s a creative force in the global music industry that will continue to grow in the years ahead through to 2020’s National Indigenous Music Awards.
2019 NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARD WINNERS
Artist Of The Year
Baker Boy
Album of the Year
Mojo Juju – ‘Native Tongue’
Song Of The Year
Mojo Juju – Native Tongue
New Talent Of The Year
Kaiit
Film Clip Of The Year
Briggs – Life Is Incredible
Director: Dylan River
Community Clip Of The Year
Deni Mob – State Of The Heart
Hall of Fame Inductees:
Tiddas
Wilma Reading
Archie Roach Foundation Award
Mambali
