Kankawa Nagarra is a Walmatjarri Elder, teacher and mentor, human rights advocate, and a passionate environmental activist, born in the traditional lands of the Gooniyandi and Walmatjarri peoples of north WA. She sings in the Aboriginal Australian blues, country, and gospel styles and writes songs filled with empathy about the great struggles she sees around her.

In July last year her friends Archer and Darren Hanlon traveled to her home community of Wangkatjungka to record a collection of her songs on Country that became her first vinyl LP. Kankawa chose specific locations between there and Fitzroy Crossing that held meaning to her and the songs she chose to sing. The centrepiece title track song ‘Wirlmarni’, which means ‘disappearing’, is a plaintive duet between Kankawa and Archer and laments the passing of the great tribal men that she remembers fondly.

Both Darren and Archer will accompany Kankawa on this tour. Archer will perform an opening set of his own folk songs, and will join Kankawa for a couple of numbers too. He has been described as a country blues crooner poet and is a truly captivating live performer. Darren will sit in with Kankawa on guitar and lend a few harmonies as well.

For the Canberra show Darren Hanlon will conduct a Q and A with Kankawa, which will give the audience insight into her incredible life journey.