After nine years of its award-winning Sound FX program, Tura, with its community partners, has moved into the next phase: the Kimberley Song Muster.
The Kimberley Song Muster supports strengthening and use of heritage languages, connecting communities, generations and stories across the region. This new chapter builds on long-term engagement in the Fitzroy Valley, working with community organisations and expanding across the Kimberley to Bidyadanga and beyond, alongside new partnerships with Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation and the youth-focused Night Space Program.
The work of Sound FX will be presented at a public seminar in Broome on Wednesday 1 April, hosted by the Nulungu Research Institute at The University of Notre Dame Australia as part of the Institute’s Talking Heads Seminar Series.
The event will explore the creation of Buga Yanu Junba, a songbook and album released in September 2025 featuring 22 original songs in Bunuba, Gooniyandi, Walmajarri, Kimberley Kriol and English, developed through collaborations between Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre, Baya Gawiy early childhood and family centre, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and Tura as part of the Sound FX program.
Led by music composer and researcher Dr Gillian Howell, the program explores how music-making can strengthen wellbeing, language knowledge and healing within communities.
“Buga Yanu Junba has shown the role that newly-composed songs can play in encouraging heritage language use in educational settings, and the importance of singing in building up people’s knowledge and confidence,” said Dr Gillian Howell. “But they are also important forms of cultural exchange, continuity, and connection across the region.
“When we began the songwriting action research with Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre in 2022 that led to Buga Yanu Junba, many older community members told us about previous songwriting projects and collaborations they’d been part of. Those conversations reminded us of the Kimberley’s long and proud history of strengthening community identity through song, and an abundance of songwriting and singing talent. The Kimberley Song Muster builds on this history and strength, supporting people of all ages to help strengthen local languages through songwriting, and celebrating older songs created by local people in earlier projects.”
Alongside the public seminar, community leaders, songwriters and project partners will gather in Broome for several days of workshops, meetings and discussions to help guide the next stage of the program: the Kimberley Song Muster.
In late April and early May, Howell will return to the Fitzroy Valley to facilitate workshops with community songwriters. Further activity is planned later in the year, including songwriting work with young people and adults at Fitzroy Valley District High School and The Night Space in September.
Tura Artistic Director Tos Mahoney said the Kimberley Song Muster represents the next stage of a long-term program developed through close collaboration with Fitzroy Valley communities.
“Over the past decade Sound FX has supported community members to expand their musical skills and repertoires and make music together in diverse and meaningful ways,” he said. “The Kimberley Song Muster will build on relationships developed through Sound FX over many years to create new opportunities for songwriting and language sharing across the region.”
The Broome seminar will include presentations by educators from Baya Gawiy Buga Yani Jandu yani U, alongside Dr Gillian Howell and sound artist Annika Moses.
Nulungu Research Institute Talking Heads Seminar – Buga Yanu Junba: Strengthening First Languages and wellbeing through collaborative songwriting will take place Wednesday 1 April, 12–1.30pm at The University of Notre Dame Australia Broome Campus (88 Guy Street). Light lunch from 12pm. Register to attend.
For those interested in donating to support the work of the Sound FX program, click here.
