YIRRAMBOI Festival announces the return of Barring Yanabul on Saturday 8 May

One of the biggest events in the YIRRAMBOI Festival calendar, BARRING YANABUL is a celebration of Blak culture across art, music, dance, theatre and visual art on Saturday May 8, with pop-up performances across Melbourne’s CBD.

Creative Director of YIRRAMBOI Festival and Boonwurrung and Wemba Wemba woman Caroline Martin said:

BARRING YANABUL reframes the city, disrupting the colonial Hoddle Grid with a full day of performances showcasing First Nations creatives from vast backgrounds, Australia-wide and international. From the busiest corner of the city at Flinders Street Station, to below the streets at Dirty Dozen, BARRING YANABUL reinserts Blak cultures into the urban landscape and reminds all that this always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

Meaning ‘we all walk the path’ in Boonwurrung and Woiwurring language, BARRING YANABUL’s sprawling program is a city-wide, free event by our finest First Nations talent, and is perfect for families.

Key highlights of the event include the much-loved Djirri Djirri Dancers (Wurundjeri); Maori group Te Hononga O Nga Iwi; a dance offering, Blakbird, by Aroah Pehi (Darrriebullum, Kuku-Yalnji, Ngâphui and Ngâtiporo); a vogue / drag feature by House of Alexander; a musical performance by YIRRAMBOI’s youngest performer, 16 year old Lillie Walker (Yorta Yorta, Kuku Yalanji and Girramay), as well as Brothers in Arms, a First Nations group from five cultural backgrounds including Tongan, West Papuan, Philippines, Maori and Ethiopian performers.

Other artists in the not-to-be-missed BARRING YANABUL line-up include:
Alan Stewart; Alkina Edwards; Allara Briggs-Pattison; AYA J; Carissa Nyalu; Chelsea McGinty; Coree Thorpe; Daniel Riley; Deeya Mithadda; Diimpa; Dylan Hoskins; Iluka Sax-Williams; Jada Narkle; Jaeden Williams; Kaiela Artists Collective Shepparton; Kid Heron; Lauren Sheree; Madi Colville-Walker; Maurial Spearim; Nakia Cadd; Nartarsha Bamblett & Olajuwon Bamblett; Nelson Baker; RidzyRay; Rubii Red; Te Hononga O Nga Iwi; Teaka Williams and Theo Cassady.

Meaning ‘Tomorrow’, in the shared local languages of the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung peoples, YIRRAMBOI Festival is a celebration of the diversity and continuous evolution of the longest living cultures in the World. It features a unique and exciting program of free and low-cost events spanning genres and art forms including music, dance, theatre, film, exhibitions, markets, fashion parades, family-friendly events, talks and symposiums.

Creative Director, Caroline Martin is a Boonwurrung and Wemba Wemba Woman, a proud Koorie Victorian, and direct descendant of the Briggs and Taylor families. Caroline was appointed the Creative Director of YIRRAMBOI Festival in late 2018.

Prior to leading YIRRAMBOI, Caroline managed Koorie community engagement and involvement in the development of the First Peoples exhibition, Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Melbourne Museum. The exhibition won national and international awards and is viewed as best practice in community engagement. Caroline is a highly respected senior leader across a broad range of environments and also founded Yalukit Marnang, a First Peoples owned and operated Cultural Strengthening consultancy.

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BARRING YANABUL
Across Melbourne CBD
Saturday 8 May, 8:30am – 8:30pm
NO BOOKINGS REQUIRED.
Visit https://yirramboi.com.au/events/barring-yanabul/ for further information.

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Image credit: Jasmin Sheppard at BARRING YANABUL, YIRRAMBOI Festival 2019. Photo by James Henry.