Australia’s preeminent Indigenous festival, Garma Festival, where Yolngu and Western culture meet, returns to the Gulkula ceremonial site in North-East Arnhem Land Friday 2 August to Monday 5 August.
The annual festival, which is celebrating 24 years, brings together clan leaders from across Arnhem Land to share traditional Yolngu culture, ideas and policy discussions with visitors, including government leaders. This year’s theme is Gurtha-Wuma Worrk-gu – Fire. Strength. Renewal.
The sold-out four-day festival, which is supported by Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC), includes the daily Bunggul (traditional ceremonial dance) at sunset, the open-air Gapan art gallery and the Key Forum. The music program will feature King Stingray, Dhapanbal Yunupingu, Yirrmal, Larry Gurruwiwi & the Birrtjimi Choir, Ngaiire, Mulga Bore Hard Rock, and the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band.
The Youth Forum returns to explore leadership and critical thinking and inspiring youth to look towards the future in the wake of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, along with hands-on cultural workshops.
The Key Forum is the think-tank component of the festival, where policy experts and community leaders discuss and debate issues impacting Yolngu and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
