ADELAIDE – As one of the standout artistic moments from this year’s WOMADelaide, Emily Wurramara’s performance offered a moving reflection on identity, heritage, and the unifying power of music. Months on, the performance still resonates as a vivid expression of cross-cultural connection and pride.
Already celebrated for her soulful blues and roots music rooted in her Warnindhilyagwa heritage from Groote Eylandt, Wurramara used the global stage of WOMADelaide, an annual four-day festival of music, arts and dance in Botanic Park, Adelaide to share another important part of her story: her Filipino heritage.
Adding depth to this cultural showcase, she was joined by acclaimed Filipino-Australian artist, musician, and producer Kuya James Mangohig, along with Rowandally and Manolis. Their collective presence underscored the strength of Filipino-Australian creative collaborations and added an electric rhythm to the performance.
A particularly powerful moment came when Wurramara invited Claire Pasion to the stage for a tribute to the kulintang—an ancient Philippine percussion instrument made up of melodic gongs arranged horizontally. As its hypnotic tones reverberated through Adelaide’s Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla, the audience was drawn into a sonic journey that honoured generations of musical tradition.
Wurramara spoke candidly of her Filipino roots, expressing how meaningful it was to share this part of herself through music. Claire Pasion’s skilled kulintang performance wasn’t just an addition, it was an intentional and emotionally resonant layer within a performance that told a story of identity in all its complexity.
For those who witnessed it, and for those who reflect on it now, Wurramara’s WOMADelaide set stands as a beautiful testament to the evolving story of multicultural Australia. Her collaboration with Kuya James and Claire Pasion did more than entertain; it celebrated heritage, acknowledged community, and affirmed the strength found in embracing every facet of who we are.
Through this heartfelt sharing of culture, Emily Wurramara bridged islands, generations, and histories, painting an unforgettable picture of what it means to carry multiple stories in a single voice.
