Yabun festival celebrates survival and culture

The City of Sydney is proud to again support Yabun, one of the country’s largest gatherings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures at Victoria Park on Sunday 26 January.

The theme for this year’s Yabun festival is ‘Resist invasion – celebrate survival – continue culture’. The event is run by the Gadigal Information Service, the Aboriginal community organisation that operates Koori Radio.

As Sydney’s only Aboriginal radio network broadcasting 24/7, Koori Radio covers local and international Indigenous news and current affairs, arts and culture.

“Yabun is an important acknowledgement and celebration of the survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

“The event brings people together in solidarity to engage with First Nations cultures through music, dance and conversation.

“2020 is an important year for our nation and a timely reminder of our relationship with First Nations communities.

“By acknowledging our shared past, we lay the groundwork for a future which embraces all Australians – a future based on mutual respect and shared responsibility for this land.

“The ongoing drought and recent bushfires are important reminders of how all of us in Australia need to care for and protect our lands and waterways, and the importance of listening to Indigenous ways of caring for the land.

Yabun means ‘music to a beat’ in the Sydney Aboriginal language.

This year’s main stage will feature emerging and established First Nations performers including the multi-award winning Dan Sultan, Yanyuwa and Warduman woman Shellie Morris who sings in 17 Aboriginal languages, blues icon Buddy Knox, and hip-hop from Kobie Dee and Philly.

Dance performances by Aboriginal communities from across NSW will celebrate the theme ‘fire and water’ at the hugely popular Corroboree Ground.

The Speak Out tent will feature guest speakers offering Indigenous perspectives on a range of issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

More than 100 stallholders, including many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, will also set up at the event.

Kids aged 10 years and under will receive free entry to the City’s Victoria Park Pool on the day.

This City has supported Yabun Festival since 2004 and is this year’s main sponsor, contributing $121,000 to the event.

Yabun Festival When: 11am–7pm, Sunday 26 January Where: Victoria Park, Camperdown Cost: Free Find out more at yabun.org.au

For media inquiries or images, please contact City of Sydney media team on 02 9246 7292 or email [email protected]

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Anusha Muller Phone 0408 494 545 or email [email protected]