Kankawa Nagarra’s ‘Wirlmarni’ Wins AMP 2024
The album beat out releases from Amyl & The Sniffers, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and Hiatus Kaiyote.
Image via @frankswildyearsrecord (Instagram)
80-year-old Walmatjarri Elder Kankawa Nagarra's debut album, Wirlmarni, has won the 2024 SoundMerch Australian Music Prize (AMP).
Known as the ‘Queen of the Bandaral Ngadu’, Kankawa is a teacher and human rights advocate whose album beat out the likes of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Amyl And The Sniffers and Hiatus Kaiyote to claim the prestigious award.
Wirlmarni, which means ‘disappearing’, is a powerful album of personal stories mixing blues, gospel and country that features Kriol and English lyrics.
“I am so thrilled and proud to receive this award. Thankyou so much to AMP,” Nagarra said in a statement. “Coming from the remote community of Wangkatjungka which in the past has been shown in a negative light with the focus on the issues and problems.
“People don’t often get to see the beautiful and positive aspects of my home and I know this award brings much pride to the people of Wangkatjungka, especially to the school and all the children who I hope to be a role model for.
“I dedicate this award to all my little Greats with a special mention to Tykrira Wilson who stands with me on the cover of the album. I love them all very much. They are my future ancestors.”
READ MORE: Amyl And The Sniffers Announce Huge 2025 Australian Tour
Over 600 albums were eligible to win this year’s AMP, with the initial batch of albums whittled down to 46, and then a final shortlist of nine – Audrey Powne’s From The Fire, Amyl And The Sniffers’ Cartoon Darkness, DOBBY’s Warrangu; River Story, Grace Cummings’ Ramona, Hiatus Kaiyote’s Love Heart Cheat Code, Kankawa Nagarra’s Wirlmarni, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ Wild God, Rowena Wise’s Senseless Acts Of Beauty and The Dirty Three’s Love Changes Everything.
Nagarra’s win comes with a cheque for $50,000 and sees her join an exclusive club of winners that includes first-ever AMP winners The Drones, Big Scary, Courtney Barnett, King Stingray and Sampa the Great, who has won the award twice.
“The judges met this morning, face-to-face, to decide that the very deserving Wirlmarni by Kankawa would win the prize,” said Scott Murphy, AMP founder and director, as reported by Rolling Stone.
“It wasn’t a quick-and-easy decision to make – there were 9 great albums, all quite diverse, all with judge support. Congratulations, Kankawa on winning our 20th prize.”
Listen to Kankawa Nagarra’s Wirlmarni here.
