Manikay (traditional songs) were once everywhere in Australia, now Northeast Arnhem Land is one of Australia’s few surviving regions for this living tradition. I produced a six 6CD set of Northeast Arnhem Land’s unique and endangered performance traditions in partnership with Sara Harvey, Randin Graves and Jeremy Cloake.
Live recording I shot and edited for Rorruwuy CD.
The manikay archives I coordinated required artists management, sound production, distribution, online marketing and grant management. The projects focus was two-fold; the preservation and continuing practice of performance traditions and integrating young people and emerging song men to maintain intergenerational knowledge transfer.
The Manikay archive exists as an income stream, public library and arts project that provides isolated Yolngu communities with digital documentation and AV products to promote, maintain and revive cultural activities. Income generated by the project has given us the opportunity to develop the knowledge by creating a sound archive accessible to the local community.
The manikay archive propelled emerging musical projects, allowing us to support young artists Rrawun Maymuru and Garrangali Band.
Robert Lazarus 