Frank Yamma oral history

Frank Yamma. Photo courtesy of Wax Lyric

During the 2013 Yabun Festival, singer-songwriter Frank Yamma sat down with the NFSA to record an interview for the Oral history program.

The Yabun Festival is an annual event that highlights the talent in Indigenous music in Australia. Aside from Yamma, this year’s line-up included Warren Williams, Uncle Archie Roach performing music form his latest album Into the Bloodstream, Uncle Vic Simms with a blistering rock’n‘roll set and iconic Queensland Aboriginal band Mop and the Dropouts.

Speaking with Yamma for the Oral History program is significant for multiple reasons. Indigenous culture is oral-based, so it is crucial the NFSA has Indigenous musicians represented in the collection. The NFSA recognises the inherent value of the spoken word as a powerful tool in the preservation of audiovisual culture. Indigenous oral histories and interviews record the stories of Indigenous music and film pioneers, creators, performers from around Australia. They capture the stories and experiences of Indigenous people who have contributed to the creation of a rich audiovisual heritage and culture.

Frank Yamma is a Pitjantjatjara man from the central desert. He speaks seven languages and sings in Pitjantjatjara and English. He spoke about growing up and playing in his father Isaac Yamma’s country and western band, and how his culture is expressed through his music.

Yamma is a formidable presence on stage and a unique voice in Australian music. His album Countryman and the hauntingly beautiful song ‘She Cried’ are a testament to his powerful vocals and ability to relay life experience through music.

In the following excerpt from the interview, Frank discusses the song ‘She Cried’:

In the second excerpt, he talks about singing in language:

This article was originally published in 2013. The text was updated in 2024.