To celebrate the ebbs and flows of Archie Roach’s life is to sing of many things.
Uncle Archie’s music sang of love, of drunkenness, of rivers and roads, of pain and of Charcoal Lane.
But he sang most of coming home: Nopun kurongk, nukun kurongk – Go to the river, look to the river.
It is only fitting a night of tribute performances to Uncle Archie Roach’s legacy is named “A Bend in the River”.
Long-time friend and singer Emma Donovan holds back tears when she sings Nopun kurongk.
“Uncle, you’re going home. Uncle, you’re home,” she sang to the crowd at Sydney’s Town Hall on Friday night.
A Gunditjmara-Bundjalung elder, Uncle Archie cemented his legacy as one of Australia’s most potent and powerful truth-tellers, songmen and activists.
Australia first heard his undeniable baritone voice crooning “this story’s right, this story’s true…” in an aching anthem that pierced through Australia’s cultural amnesia over 30 years ago.
He died in July 2022 at the age of 66.
‘Moments of memories’
“I have moments of memories, back of us in the ’90s when it was the three of us – of Uncle Archie and Aunty Ruby,” singer David Arden said.
“When we played here, we made beautiful memories.
“Standing out on this stage without him, it makes me very emotional.”
Kutcha Edwards was similar: “I don’t usually get nervous” was his preface before singing Munjana.
Paul Kelly reminisces about lamb sandwiches and tea when he talks and sings of Charcoal Lane.
His friends and collaborators sang songs Australia knows and songs the country has never heard before – even bringing to life one of Uncle Archie’s poems Cradle of Life.
In it, the cradle of life rocks Archie gently but he wonders if it will rock no more.
“Oh rock my soul, rock my soul,” Archie wrote.
-AAP
