Kaiit, Birdz and Fred Leone added to BLAKTIVISM lineup

Joseph Guenzler Published October 17, 2023 at 10.00am (AWST)

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Sorong Samurai at last years BLAKTIISM event. (Image: James Taylor)

Indigenous powerhouse acts Kaiit, Birdz and Fred Leone are set to join a studded lineup of artists for the special one-night event, BLAKTIVISM.

The event celebrates Blak cultures and Blak activism at Arts Centre Melbourne's Hamer Hall on Friday, 1 December, as part of ALWAYS LIVE.

They join a lineup that includes previously announced artists King Stingray, Tasman Keith, Bart Willoughby, Emma Donovan, Deline Briscoe, Suga Cane Mamas, and Sorong Samarai.

BLAKTIVISM, now in its third year, explores Skylore, which connects Indigenous cultures across the country through stories in the sky.

It traces the journey from the rise of the Evening Star in the Kulin Nations to the rise of the Morning Star in West Papua.

Kaiit, a Papua New Guinea-born musician based in Naarm (Melbourne), is known for her deep spiritual connection to her ancestors.

Her Aria award-winning music blends old soul vocals with contemporary rhymes, conveying gratitude and community through relatable storytelling and has supported international artists such as SZA and The Internet.

Birdz and Fred Leone, are cousins and descendants of the Butchulla people.

The two effortlessly merge traditional Songlines with contemporary music, blending hip hop and traditional sounds in both Butchulla language and English.

Birdz, known for his impactful hip hop, carrying messages of hope and self-determination while Fred Leone's powerful vocals and mastery of traditional instruments create a unique sound.

As a Butchulla Songman, Fred Leone is dedicated to preserving Butchulla stories in oral histories and ceremonies.

Curated by Gaba Musik's Artistic Director Deline Briscoe, BLAKTIVISM 2023 commences with Mundanai, a ceremonial opening led by Songwomen from the Kulin Nations including Dr Lou Bennett (Dja Dja Wurrung), Mandy Nicholson (Wurundjeri), Isobel Paipadjerook (Taungarrung), Renee Sweetman (Bunwurrung), and Corrina Eccles (Wadawarrung).

BLAKTIVISM was initially debuted at Arts Centre Melbourne's Live at the Bowl in 2021, in response to the global dialogue surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and Australia's Indigenous sovereignty.

The event schedule for the BLAKTIVISM evening is as follows: