Sharing songs for International Mother Language Day
Story contributed to ABC Mother Tongue, 23 Feb 2016
February 21st is International Mother Language Day. To celebrate, next week we are asking everyone to share a song in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language on their Facebook page.
The campaign is being spearheaded by the Parkes Wiradjuri Language Team who were ambassadors for International Mother Languages Day last year, and have gone on to record their own song, Badu Ngahdi Mudyigaang Guwany: I am My Elders Blood, to be launched for the event this year. The song was written by Geoff Anderson, Lionel Lovett and the Parkes Wiradjuri Language group and is sung by Lionel Lovett and Tiyana Towney. Click here to listen to Badu Ngahdi Mudyigaang Guwany, and here to read a story about the production process.
There may be a song in your language that is available for sharing, or you might like to record one. It could be an existing song, a translation of part of your favourite song, or something you have written. Even just a few lines is fine.
ABC Open has some tips on recording on your smart phone that people looking to record themselves or their families singing may find useful, for example:
* Filming with your smart phone
* Editing video on your mobile
* Recording audio on your smart phone
How to share with us:
Once you have a copy of the song. Upload it to your personal Facebook account, ‘like’ our Facebook page, and then ‘tag’ First Languages Australia @firstlangaugesaustralia and tell us about the song, or post the link on our Facebook page.
We are looking forward to a song filled week celebrating our languages.
