Honouring Indigenous Literacy Day, virtually
One of the strengths of reading and writing is that it can defy borders. It can be done any time anywhere, as Jessica Mauboy plans to show.
One of the strengths of reading and writing is that it can defy borders. It can be done any time anywhere, as Indigenous singer-songwriter Jessica Mauboy plans to show at the first live-streamed Indigenous Literacy Day.
“I’m so excited about this day. I can’t wait to sing and hear people singing the words back to me from their screens, wherever they are,” says Mauboy, who rose to fame on Australian Idol and has four studio albums to her name.
Indigenous Literacy Day, founded in 2005, is usually held at the Sydney Opera House, but COVID-19 restrictions mean this Wednesday it will be a virtual celebration, streamed via the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s YouTube site from 12.30pm AEST.
Darwin-born Mauboy will also perform at a second event for primary school children, via the Sydney Opera House’s YouTube site from 2pm AEST. She will be backed by other ILF ambassadors and supporters including children’s author Andy Griffiths and Indigenous musician Archie Roach. They will be joined by Indigenous children from around the country and parents and teachers.
Mauboy, an ILF ambassador for five years, said she knew from the beginning that she was taking part in “something special … I realised that I was going to be a part of this movement to help kids who want to read and write and have fun with books.”
The next step was becoming involved in Indigenous children learning and preserving their own languages. “That really opened my eyes,” Mauboy said. “I understood how important it was for them to have their own voice.”
That voice is starting to be heard. It is at the heart of Tara June Winch’s novel The Yield, which won the Miles Franklin Literary Award in July. The ILF has published more than 100 books in Indigenous languages.
On Wednesday, Mauboy will sing, for the younger audience, her much-loved Barramundi Song in three languages: Mangarrayi, Kriol (from the Tiwi Islands) and English. She will also perform what is billed as an “1980s Australian favourite”. When this reporter, old enough to know 80s songs, guesses it will be John Farnham’s You’re the Voice, Mauboy laughs. “I love that song! But no, I will be singing My Island Home.”
Written by Neil Murray, the song was performed by his Warumpi Band in the 80s and was a hit for Christine Anu in the 90s.
For more information on Indigenous Literacy Day go to: www.indigenousliteracy foundation.org.au
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