A group of migrant youths have collaborated to make a hip-hop song and music video with an effervescent, yet powerful, message about unity in Australia.
The tune, Same Drum, is the brainchild of award-winning filmmaker Poppy van Oorde-Grainger, and was created during a series of workshops with students from the Intensive English Centre at Aranmore Catholic College, Leederville.
The clip, shot by Perth visual artist Matsu, premiered on 15 March to coincide with the start of Harmony Week.
Once a teenage migrant herself, Poppy said the draw of directing the project was to empower youths to help find their feet and to have a sense of belonging.
“This project is a unique opportunity for these young people to be the leaders in telling their own stories,” Poppy expressed.
“My work has focused on using art to foster people’s self-esteem and sense of belonging. I’ve made art and film with communities all over Australia and overseas and one of my favourite places to work is the Intensive English Centre at Aranmore.”
The six students involved on the three-minute track are: Juk Yuang of Sudan, Rita Yousif of Iraq, Sota Kikuyama of Japan, Frank Mucho of Rwanda, Kalungila Lutombo of Congo, and Ahmed Shihab of Iraq.
Their aim was to deliver a strong message about embracing life in Australia while honouring their roots.
At 13 years of age, singer Rita Yousif is the youngest member involved in the project.
“My favourite part of the project was filming at the train station in the city; lots of people walked by and it made me feel free. I was happy that they could see what we were doing,” Rita said.
“I want people to see the video, especially migrants so they feel belonging and they don’t feel they are strange when they come to a new country.”
After 18 months of living in Perth, the Iraqi youngster feels accustomed to both Australian and Arabic culture.
“It feels really cool that you know and are living in more than one culture.”
The song is performed in English and three African languages – Swahili, Dinka and Kinyarwanda.
Frank Mucho, 17, raps on the track in English and Kinyarwanda; he hopes the video will break stereotypes of people.
“I [got involved] because I thought this project would have an impact on some people that are not open-minded and their understanding of multi-culturalism,” Frank said.
“There’s a stereotype that new arrivals who don’t have a certain level of English are incapable, but there’s always a way to achieve something. No matter where you’re from or what language you speak. The Same Drum film shows that and breaks that stereotype.”
The young participants worked with a team of high-profile artists to create the music video and script for a short film.
The team included hip-hop musician Scott Griffiths, screenwriter David Vincent Smith, cinematographer Matsu, dancer Rita Nita, filmmaker Gemma Parsons, and members of South Sudanese wrestling team Western Empire.
Aranmore Catholic College Principal Declan Tanham said the music project was an instrument to open people’s minds away from pre-conceived notions.
“It’s great to be able to say to the wider community that these are fantastic kids, they love doing the same things as the local people and their interests and aspirations are similar to those of other people in Australia,” Mr Tanham said.