Making politics musically

Making politics musically

By Chris Spindler

If you have the chance to see Seven Sisters play at the Aboriginal Women's Music Festival in Sydney in December, don't miss it. You'll be treated, as the Adelaide Cultural Dissent crowd was on November 1, to a great array of acoustic political songs.

The evening featured Ochre — four members of the Seven Sisters — and Archipelago, the well-known women's a cappella group based in Adelaide.

Ochre played mostly songs written and developed by the band members. The themes were black deaths in custody, Aboriginal land and campaigning for black rights.

They sing a moving song of Aboriginal culture "dying at the hands of a 'civilised' posse" and follow it up with "How many colours do I see?", a song about accepting people of different colour. "Love is" written by Delphine Geia, was another highlight.

The up-tempo "Yill Lull", written by Joe Geia, kept the set moving: "Sing for the black / and the people of this land, / Sing for the red / and the blood that's been shed ..."

Archipelago were also at their best, fresh from a stint at the Reclaim the Night march the Friday before. They centred much of their contribution on the struggle in South Africa.

Their highlights included the song "Freedom is coming" from South Africa.

A tribute to Winnie Mandela written by Melanie Shanahan was called "Struggle and Survive". They also moved the audience with the Sweet Honey in the Rock song "Moving On".

Adelaide Cultural Dissent also thanks Jenny Clarke for the PA.

From GLW issue 80