Deadly Nannas facts for kids
Deadly Nannas (which means Nragi Muthar in the Ngarrindjeri language) is a music group from Murray Bridge, South Australia. They started making music together around 2016. This group of singers and songwriters is mostly made up of Ngarrindjeri women, along with two non-Indigenous friends. They sing together, often with music playing in the background.
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Why the Deadly Nannas Started
The group formed in 2017 with an important goal: to write and perform songs in the Ngarrindjeri language. They wanted to help keep this language and culture alive and strong. Many of the women in the group studied an Aboriginal language that was in danger of being lost. This helped them to mix Ngarrindjeri words with English in their songs.
Some of the Aboriginal members grew up speaking their language at home. However, they were not allowed to speak it in other places. Some members of the group were also affected by sad government policies from the past. These policies caused families to be separated, and this time is known as the Stolen Generations.
Meet the Group Members
The main spokesperson for the Deadly Nannas is Georgina Trevorrow. As of 2020, other members included Diana Murphy, Vicki Hartman, Lena Rigney, Pauline Walker, Bec Gollan, Vicki Cummings, and Phyliss Williams.
Performances and Awards
The Deadly Nannas have performed at many cultural events. They have traveled all around Australia to share their music. For example, they performed at Mii Pudnanthi at the Adelaide Showground. In March 2021, they were part of the Adelaide Fringe festival. In 2019, the group was a finalist for the Premier's NAIDOC Award. This is a special award given in South Australia during NAIDOC Week, which celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Their Music Releases
By 2019, the Deadly Nannas had released three music CDs. Their first CD, called Ngarrindjeri Lullaby, came out in 2017. They also released a self-titled CD, Deadly Nannas, in 2019. In March 2020, the group released their first music video for a song called "Celebrating Culture." This video was a special tribute to one of their group members who had passed away before the video was finished.
Connecting Through Language
As of 2021, the Deadly Nannas have been involved in a school singing program in South Australia. They are working to help more people speak Ngarrindjeri. The 2016 Australian census reported only 312 Ngarrindjeri speakers. For Ngarrindjeri children, learning and connecting to their language is very important. It helps them feel good about themselves and connect to their land and culture.
