DJ AFRIKA BAMBAATAA toured to Australia by Aboriginal company in support of social change

DJ AFRIKA BAMBAATAA is making a
rare appearance across five states in Australia as the first tour of fledgling
Aboriginal company KISSmyBLAKarts. This event is more than a celebration of the
artist who is recognised by life magazine as one of the most influential people
of the 20th Century, but it is a return to a global consciousness and connect
between Aboriginal Australia and African American arts and social change
leaders.

Historically, Australia has a
long history of trade and engagement with the international nations of colour.
A catalyst for the civil rights movement in Australia came through the power of
understanding global unity. At a time when Australia's BLAK people were
classified as Flora and Fauna, MARCUS GARVEY had recruited African-American
merchant seaman to spread his philosophies globally. Those who made it to
Australia, met with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to share this vision
of empowerment. From this, the first Black political theatre movement was born
and through the arts the seeds of social change were embedded to move toward
recognition of black rights and equity.

Leading African-American artists
continued this tradition and whenever there was a tour to this country, these
artists made it a point to engage with the Aboriginal Nations. PAUL ROBESON and
NAT KING COLE were among the list. This continued with artists right up until
the 80s and 90s with the likes of STEVIE WONDER, JANET JACKSON, MICHAEL
JACKSON, TINA TURNER, PUBLIC ENEMY, ICE CUBE and DE LA SOUL making a point of
recognising and engaging with the Indigenous peoples of Australia.

DJ AFRIKA BAMBAATAA is a return
to this connect, and has specifically made a decision to tour with
KISSmyBLAKarts on the basis of an opportunity to forge links with  Aboriginal Australians and social
change movements. He is doing this through a speaking series that will be
running alongside an authentic opportunity to experience the Funk coming off
the decks of  the  Amen Ra of Hip Hop and Father of
Electro Funk.

Musically he stands iconic. With
over 30 years trailblazin’ around the world, DJ AFRIKA BAMBAATAA can almost
single-handedly be credited for the urban music revolution - redefining music
and culture as we know it today. His creation of Electro Funk, beginning with
his piece “Planet Rock,” helped fuel the development of other musical genres
such as Freestyle or Latin Freestyle, Miami Bass, Electronica, House, Hip
House, and early Techno. He has been inducted into the HIP HOP [rock &
roll] Hall of Fame and awarded by both Billboard and the Source Magazine the
status of Pioneer of HIP HOP and ELECTRO FUNK.

The DJ AFRIKA BAMBAATAA
conversation series connects to his knowledge and overstanding as the innovator
of one of the biggest social change movements in the past 40years and through
his humanitarian commitment, the Universal Zulu Nation. This is a ticketed
event open to all public, but is being held within Indigenous environments to
foster a greater connect for all attending, to positive BLAK Australian
experiences.

BOOKINGS FOR THE CONVERSATION SERIES are only available
through www.afrikabambaata.com or
by contacting sam@kissmyblakarts.com
for further detail.

National BAMBAATAA in Conversation dates are:

18/3 Brisbane - Level 1 Auditorium - Kuril Dhagan Qld State
Library, Stanley St South Bank QLD - 07-3842-9887

19/3 Sydney - Redfern Community Ctr - 29-53 Hugo St Redfern
NSW - 02-9288-5713

22/3 Melbourne - Aboriginal Advancement League - 2 Watt St,
Thornbury VIC - 03-9480-6923

24/3 Adelaide - Tandanya Aboriginal Cultural Institute - 253
Grenfell St, Adelaide SA - 08-8224-3200 - www.tandanya.com.au

25/3 Perth – Abmusic 
295 Manning Rd, Waterford WA - 08-9458-9077 - www.abmusic.org.au

FULL GIG DATES are on sale through MOSHTIX – www.moshtix.com.au  /

PH: 1300 438 849

17/3 Brisbane - The Family www.thefamily.com.au

20/3 Sydney – Forum www.forumsydney.com.au

21/3 Melbourne - Billboard www.billboardthevenue.com.au

23/3 Adelaide – Viva www.vivafunctioncentre.com.au

26/3 Perth – Metro www.metrosuperclub.com.au