The Australian Andrew Gurruwiwi Band visited multiple Majuro schools in addition to public performances when it was in Majuro last month.
The “very successful” visit included performances at the College of the Marshall Islands, Laura Elementary/High School, Majuro Cooperative School, Delap Elementary School, Life Skills Academy and Majuro Middle School, said Kallan Phillips, the second secretary at the Australian Embassy, which funded the visit.
“In addition to the public performances, we wanted to leverage their artistic and professional performing experience to deliver a program of development activities focused on encouraging youth engagement with the arts,” said Phillips. “During their time in Majuro, the band delivered performances and cultural workshops” to students from seven schools.
“The kids loved the shows,” he said. “There was lots of dancing, particularly when encouraged by the Embassy staff. At one point, the band taught the kids from Delap Elementary School and Life Skills Academy the lyrics to their song Yaa Djamarrkuḻi. Andrew Gurruwiwi commented that the kids sang things so well that they sounded like they were from his home in Yirrkala!”
The visit didn’t just deliver a great impression to local students and residents from hearing and engaging with the band.
Phillips said band members told him “they felt so connected to RMI and the people here, they began writing some songs which they hope to include on a future album and are very hopeful that they’ll be able to come back in the future.”
Band members said they are keen to learn more about traditional methods of catching fish and cooking turtle, “which are very important in Yolngu culture as well,” Phillips said.