80-year-old Kankawa Nagarra wins $50,000 Australian Music Prize for debut album Wirlmarni
Walmatjarri elder and blues musician Kankawa Nagarra says her $50,000 Australian Music Prize win will bring pride to her remote community in Wangkatjungka. (Double J: Dorothy Markek)
Walmatjarri elder, teacher, and singer-songwriter Kankawa Nagarra has won the coveted Australian Music Prize (AMP).
The 80-year-old's debut album, Wirlmarni, sees her pocketing $50,000 — one of the country's biggest music prizes — and topping a shortlist featuring Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Amyl and the Sniffers, and ARIA winner DOBBY.
Hailed as the "Queen of the Bandaral Ngadu Delta", Nagarra is a Stolen Generations survivor born on Gooniyandi and Walmatjarri country in North Western Australia before being taken from her family and sent to a mission.
She was taught hymns and Gospel music with the mission choir, then discovered country and rock music on the radio while working a pastoral lease. Years later, she fell in love with the blues after seeing a busker in Derby, WA.
Singing in both Kriol and English, Nagarra's debut Wirlmarni (meaning "disappearing") blends blues, country, gospel and Walmatjarri songlines. These are songs shaped by a life of hardship yet convey resilience, empathy and messages of empowerment and environmentalism.
"I am so thrilled and proud to receive this award," Nagarra said on Wednesday of the AMP victory, which she says is a win for the remote Aboriginal community of Wangkatjungka in North Western Australia.
"Coming from the remote community of Wangkatjungka, which in the past has been shown in a negative light with the focus on the issues and problems, people don't often get to see the beautiful and positive aspects of my home," she said.
"And I know this award brings much pride to the people of Wangkatjungka, especially to the school and all the children who I hope to be a role model for."
Nagarra dedicates her win to "all my little Greats" - the school children she teaches songwriting and music in Wangkatjungka. (Supplied: Kankawa Nagarra)
Wirlmarni was recorded live near Nagarra's home in Wangkatjungka, recorded in the desert with her grandchildren at her feet, insects buzzing, and even the rustle of tin foil wrapping kangaroo tail for the BBQ.
"It adds to the flavour of the moment" Nagarra told RN's The Music Show earlier this year.
"It was designed to be very raw, out on country and just being with people and listening to the sound of birds and other happenings within the community."
"I am not musically trained. My relationship with the guitar is all to do with just listening with the ear and then picking up the chords, so I call myself an interesting blues player."
Nagarra thanked her friend and fellow singer-songwriter Darren Hanlon, who recorded and produced Wirlmarni. Hanlon, who tours regularly with Nagarra, was seen wiping away tears of joy at the AMP ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday.
"The production of the album has been thousands of years in the making." Kankawa Nagarra with friend and producer Darren Hanlon. (Supplied: Ausralian Music Prize)
Originally devised as Australia's answer to the UK's coveted Mercury Prize, the Australian Music Prize — now in its 20th year — is decided by a panel of more than 30 music industry judges.
The panel listened (and we're guessing politely argued) over more than 600 eligible albums before crowning Kankawa Nagarra the winner, besting releases such as Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' 18th studio album, Wild God, pub-punks Amyl and the Sniffers for Cartoon Darkness; and Grace Cummings for Ramona.
Rounding out the 2024 shortlist was The Dirty Three's first album in 12 years, Love Changes Everything; 2024 Best World Music Album ARIA winner DOBBY's WARRANGU; River Story; Hiatus Kaiyote's Love Heart Cheat Code; Rowena Wise's (of Folk Bitch Trio) debut solo album, Senseless Acts of Beauty, and jazz prodigy Audrey Powne's From The Fire.
Nagarra joins an AMP hall of fame that includes previous winners RVG, King Stingray, Genesis Owusu, The Avalanches, Sampa The Great, and more.