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Traditional Owners celebrate strength and spirit at relaunched Lúrra Festival
[supplied by NLC]
Image: MaggieCoggan
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Lúrra Festival was back with an expanded offering of community celebration, music, fashion, culture, and sport. Led by Maningrida Traditional Owners and Elders, 2024 is the first year that Lúrra Festival has run since the pandemic in 2021.
In May this year, the Dhukurrdji Traditional Owner group allocated a portion of their Community Projects funds (from Land Use Agreements) towards getting the festival back up and running. The Traditional Owners also decided to apply for the NLC’s Matched Funding Program to support local Aboriginal bands to perform at the festival as well as to engage an events coordinator.
A vibrant opening ceremony and Bungul, local basketball and football competitions, weaving and didgeridoo painting workshops, and a bush food cook-up took place across the three days.
Bands and artists from Arnhem Land and the rest of the Northern Territory (NT) took to the stage each night, with a massive line-up of big-name acts including J Milla, Ripple Effect, and Liverpool River.
One of the major highlights of the weekend was a fashion show featuring emerging local models wearing Babarra Women’s Centre designs, and a limited-edition collection from NT clothing brand House of Darwin.
Prior to walking the runway, the models (spanning children to Senior Elders), participated in fashion workshops run by Maningrida woman and artist, Noni Eather, and Yirrakala woman and international model, Maminydjama (Magnolia) Maymuru, showcasing rising stars the ins-and-outs of the fashion world.
The festival was supported by many Maningrida and NT organisations, as well as a dedicated crew of volunteers and staff that worked non-stop to make the return of Lúrra a huge success.
NLC Chair Mr Matthew Ryan said “This event has been a great showcase of how Traditional Owners can utilise the NLC’s Community Projects and Development program, and its Matched Funding initiative, to bring opportunities and celebration to their communities.
“Lúrra – coming together – this is what the Festival is all about. It really shared the strengths and talents of the strong local community, and incredible region.
“A big congratulations to local Maningrida groups, including Nja-Marleya Maningrida, Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation, and Dhukurrdji Development Corporation for their hard work in making it happen.
“I would also like to acknowledge the Sorry Business being conducted in and around Maningrida over the same weekend. I pay my respects to all the families, and the loved ones lost.”