Designed to preserve cultural knowledge of the Torres Strait through song, First Nations musician Jesse Lloyd has been awarded the inaugural Ilan Style Fellowship.
The Fellowship, a collaboration between wellness brand Ilan Style and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), will provide Ms Lloyd with the opportunity to undertake groundbreaking research, recording, and production of Meriam and Torres Strait Island songs.
Aiming to preserve the culturally significant songs through documentation and digital archiving at AIATSIS, Ms Lloyd will partner with Meriam songwoman, Margaret 'Nayama' Gabey (nee Akee) by coordinating research and recording sessions with Ms Gabey on Thursday Island.
Together, they plan do document Ms Gabey's extensive Meriam song repertoire, accompanied by detailed background stories for archival purposes.
Using portable recording equipment, Ms Lloyd aims to ensure the authenticity and intimacy of the recordings, capturing the essence of Ms Gabey's performances in her home environment.
Ms Lloyd said archiving the collection of songs is of significant cultural importance.
"Preserving these songs is essential to safeguarding our cultural heritage," Ms Lloyd said.
"Working closely with Nayama allows us to not only document her songs but also celebrate the resilience and creativity of Torres Strait Islanders."
A respected Meriam Elder and cultural practitioner from Thursday Island, Ms Gabey approached Ms Lloyd after their collaboration in the Lingu Karay - Torres Strait Women's Choir, where Ms Lloyd served as Choir Leader.
Ms Gabey's desire to preserve and promote Meriam songs aligns with Ms Lloyd's expertise and dedication to Indigenous music traditions, as she has a background in preserving, modernising, and composing songs in the Western Torres Strait languages.
The culmination of the project will see the creation of a comprehensive collection featuring lyrics, musical scores and background narratives for each song, with a unique songbook set to be included in AIATSIS' archives and made available online, ensuring widespread accessibility for future generations.
Ilay Style say its collaboration with AIATSIS highlights shared values of a commitment to cultural preservation and Indigenous knowledge transmission, while enhancing Ms Gabey's visibility within the music industry and opening doors for performances and broader recognition of Torres Strait cultural contributions.
Ilan Style managing director Kerry Arabena said she was proud to support Ms Lloyd and Ms Gabey on their collaborative cultural journey.
"We are honoured to support Jessie Lloyd and Nayama Gabey in their efforts to preserve and promote Meriam cultural heritage," Ms Arabena said.
"This project is a testament to Ilan Style's dedication to cultural enrichment."
Embodying Ms Arabena's vision by creating premium Australian native products that support wellbeing, the planet and Indigenous culture, Ilan Style offers a range of thoughtful products fostering a holistic wellbeing experience that celebrates positivity and environmental responsibility.
Proceeds contribute to the Ilan Style Fellowship, which supports the empowerment of Torres Strait Islander scholars, students and community members, contributing to language revitalisation and fostering a new generation of cultural heritage custodians.
