Aboriginal and
Maori Indigenous Hip Hop
Thursday 30th October 2003, Bar Bodega,
Wellington
Friday 31st October 2003, Galatos, Auckland
Doors open 9 PM. $15 on the door.
Featuring:
ABORIGINAL ARTISTS
Local Knowledge
Gudabah
free.B
MAORI ARTISTS
Upper Hutt Posse
Native Sons
Nat Rose
Medical Clan feat. MC 11
MCB.Me & Jamila
Outback Down Under - Aboriginal and Maori -
Indigenous hip hop
An indigenous uprising will hit Wellington at Bar Bodega on Thursday 30th
October and Auckland at Galatos on Friday October
31st, when Aboriginal
hip hop crews Local Knowledge, Gudabah, and free.B, along with Maori hip
hop revolutionaries Upper Hutt Posse and other assorted conscious artists
take to the stage to celebrate indigenous resistance to colonisation.
"As the warmongering against indigenous peoples continues, and
as our perspectives and ideas are continually trivialised…, events like
this are happening for us to celebrate our existence, for us to
strengthen the resolve to end racism and to end
oppression…” - Dean Hapeta (aka D
Word, aka Te Kupu) of Upper Hutt Posse
The gig celebrates indigenous resistance to colonisation and coincides
with the week that the Declaration of Independence 1835 was signed at
Waitangi. The Declaration of Independence, signed in October 1835, was a
pre-runner to the Treaty of Waitangi, declaring Aotearoa an independent
country. It stated that all sovereign power and authority would reside
with the Indigenous tribes. The Declaration's signatories agreed to meet
at Waitangi in the autumn of every year to frame laws for the peace and
good order of the country.
The organisation spearheading this cultural and political exchange is Te
Kawau Maro:
"The gig is an indigenous conscious kaupapa between Aboriginal and
Maori, continuing a long tradition of politically and actively working
together. It is also an opportunity for the two indigenous groups to
collaborate more closely, and to raise our struggle by utilising those
skills and talents that we have been gifted. It is an opportunity to
focus energies on indigenous peoples down under, therefore it is a
kaupapa gig, politically focused and motivated by political
people." Tauni Ngatai-Sinclair
About the groups
Local Knowledge
Local Knowledge was conceived in March 2002, and is composed of
lyricist brothers Abie and Warrick (Wok) Wright alongside turntablist and
producer Joel Wenitong-Rios (aka DJ Weno). Their party rockin’ hip hop
carries a message of pride, identity and self-determination, and Local
Knowledge are as well known in their local community for their
involvement in Indigenous causes as they are for their music. Aiming to
teach people about Aboriginal issues through intelligent rap, Local
Knowledge "tell it like it was, how it is and how it should
be".
Gudabah
Fresh Murris from the Cairns scene; Astro, Allan, and Mo make up
Gudabah, an Aboriginal reggae-rhythm-rock-rap crew. Also skilled in
traditional Aboriginal dance and song, the trio have performed around
Australia and Asia, with Astro recently appearing in New York.
free.B
A Goori actor/rapper of Dunghutti nation, free.B is also a
traditional dancer and has performed live locally, as well as at national
Australian festivals and in Japan.
Upper Hutt Posse
Since their inception as a reggae band in 1985, the Posse have
been fighting racial injustice through their music.
In 1988 they released Aotearoa's first rap record, 'E Tu' and with it
they defined themselves as one of Maori youth's most relevant voices, and
more than that, a voice for the youth of Aotearoa, and all those who see
the need for change. 3 albums, 11 singles and 11 music video clips later,
Upper Hutt Posse have performed throughout Aotearoa and the world always
bringing a strong political consciousness combined with some of the most
innovative music heard from this country. See
www.tekupu.com for
more info.
Native Sons
Established in 1994, the 8 piece band play reggae flavours with a
hip hop baseline while an MC and DJ take care of business. Their lyrical
content is focused on the struggle for Maori Independence and
Sovereignty.
Nat Rose
Starting out in 1999 - Nat and her Crew now blend fresh hip hop
with soulful melodic rhythms.
Medical Clan feat. MC 11
Born in the new millennium, their phat'n heavy hip hop beats
strike home the socially and politically conscious message of Rangatahi
Maori.
MCB.Me & Jamila
Singing and rhyming from politically conscious sista's enhanced by smooth
blues and lounge harmonies.
THE ORGANISERS
Te Kawau Maro was conceived in 1993 on the Tamaki Auckland Campus and is
comprised of global thinking, local acting, grass roots, student
activists. Their influences are Rewi Maniapoto - Te Kooti - Che Guevara,
the Zapatistas and any other revolutionary comrades raging against the
machine. Indigenous rights activists, social economists, legal advocates,
forum & event organisers, global networkers of Indigenous
Peoples are all strong components of this specialist
membership.
TKM
For further information contact Tauni-Ngatai Sinclair 021 181 2942 or
Dean Hapeta aka Te Kupu matakahi@paradise.net.nz 021 129
5531
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