Hailing from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjantjara (APY) Lands in the far north of South Australia, DEM MOB deliver powerful messages about their struggles, stories, culture and land. Young front men Elisha Umuhuri and Jontae Lawrie are the first rappers to perform and record in the ancient Pitjantjatjara language, challenging expectations and becoming community role models along the way. With family ties to Aboriginal music royalty Coloured Stone, No Fixed Address and Yothu Yindi, it’s no surprise that they are such natural leaders and performers. Over the past few years, DEM MOB have performed across SA at Tandanya Cultural Centre for Treaty Festival, the Art Gallery of South Australia for First Fridays and supported the likes of BARKAA, J-Milla and Electric Fields.
Elijah says “Music is the last link we have to our culture. Everything in our world has a dreamtime story, a song to teach the procedures. If we lose our dreamtime stories, we will be culture-less. Language is changing because of Western influence but our songlines are still strong. Music is the only reason our culture still exists, the thing that white people can’t take away. It is everything, it is why we do what we do.”
Sat
10:00pm
Frome Park Pavilion