Yirramboi means 'tomorrow' in the language of the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung peoples (the traditional custodians of the land on which Melbourne is built). It's a fitting name for a festival that shares the history, but also celebrates the future, of the world's longest living cultures.
Yirramboi First Nations arts and culture festival is back for 2021, with over 150 events to explore this May 6 to 16. The biennial festival first ran in 2017 when a city-wide "blak out" transformed Melbourne with First Nations-led dance, music, visual art, theatre and film events. The 2021 festival is set to be the biggest yet and one of the first opportunities for many performers to get back in front of a live audience after 2020. "When you immerse yourself in the many free and paid events you will be a part of the first live audience that many of our creatives have had in more than 12 months," says Yirramboi creative director and Boonwurrung and Wemba Wemba woman, Caroline Martin. "We can’t wait to celebrate with you.”
Highlights of the 2021 Yirramboi program include:
A Fight for Survival
The Northlands Collective Mob have created a political cabaret about the true story to save Northlands Secondary College from closure during the early 1990s.
Ziggy Ramo
Hear the rapper perform his debut album Black Thoughts live at the Melbourne Recital Centre.
Arterial
This acrobatic show from Na Djinang Circus explores the deep connections shared between First Nations people, country and culture as well as the damage caused by colonisation.
Barring Yanabul
Yirramboi's city-wide "blak-out" is back, with Melbourne hosting more than 40 pop-up performances for one day only on Saturday, May 8.
Madhanbaa Mayrraa
Musician Henry James is taking to the Grand Organ at Melbourne Town Hall for a night that fuses techno with traditional style songs from the Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay languages.
Other events you won't want to miss include the spectacular Miss First Nation 2021 (the only national comp for First Nations drag performers) and the Deadly Funny Showcase (a side-splitting comedy gala featuring the likes of Dane Simpson, Constantina Bush, Ben Moodie and Kimmie Lovegrove).
Head to the Yirramboi website for the full program.
