By Birdz and Fred Leone, Baker Boy among winners at 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards
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By Tilda Colling
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Topic:Indigenous Music
Baker Boy has earned a spot in countless Hottest 100 countdowns over the years, and was featured on triple j’s Like A Version earlier this year. (triple j)
In short:
Yolŋu hip hop star Baker Boy won the Album of the year, Song of the Year and Film Clip of the Year at the National Indigenous Music Awards.
Duo Birdz and Fred Leone took home the NIMAs top award Artist of the Year.
Marelene Cummins and Saltwater Band were both inducted into the NIMAs Hall of Fame
ARIA-winning Yolŋu hip hop star Baker Boy has won big again at this year’s prestigious National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs), an event that honour Indigenous artists from around the nation.
Danzal Baker (Baker Boy) released his album Djandjay last year, which he dedicated to his Momu (grandmother).
He has previously credited his grandmother for bringing hip hop to Arnhem Land after travelling to Los Angeles for her honeymoon.
The album Djandjay was an evolution from his happy-go-lucky ‘Fresh Prince of Arnhem Land’ sound, featuring heavier tracks with a grungier tones touching on topics like the voice referendum, impostor syndrome and systemic racism.
Djandjay won NIMAs Album of the Year, and track Thick Skin which features Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee’ahn and Jada Weaze won both Song of the Year and Film Clip of the Year.
Butchulla duo act Birdz and Fred Leone took home the NIMAs top award Artist of the Year, after releasing their debut joint EP GIRA last year.
Fred Leone and Birdz are cousins. (Supplied: Marcus Coblyn)
The duo combined the Birdz ‘s hip hop sounds with his cousin Butchulla songman Fred Leone to create a powerful six track EP.
Another huge win of the night was split between indigenous jazz and blues artist from Queensland Marlene Cummins and Galiwin’ku’s Saltwater Band after they were both inducted into the NIMAs Hall of Fame.
Remote artists win awards
Meanwhile, Gapuwiyak’s Drifting Clouds — the stage name adopted by Yolngu star Terry Guyula, who is from the homelands of Bunhungura and describes himself as “the most chill band from Arnhem Land” — was named Best New Talent.
Drifting Clouds was named Best New Talent at the 2026 NIMAs. (Supplied)
Speaking with triple j unearthed last month, Drifiting Clouds said his creative efforts were intentional and he wanted “to write music about life in community in [his] homeland so people can see and feel [his] land”.
The Bulman School and surrounding community won the Indigenous Language Award for LOK LOK MAH BURARR (Lizard and Goanna), a song about the Dreamtime story that explains the reptilian patterns.
Finally, the 2026 Community Clip of the Year award was awarded to the Northern Peninsula Area.
Originally published on www.abc.net.au — View original