David Bridie, Rhoda Roberts, Fablice Manirakiza honoured in Australia Council Awards

Performer and producer David Bridie, indigenous festival curator and arts administrator Rhoda Roberts and rapper/community activist Fablice Manirakiza were among the eight artists honoured at 2019 Australia Council Awards.

Bridie received the Don Banks Music Award for a distinguished artist who has made “an outstanding and sustained contribution to music in Australia.”

Past recipients include Liza Lima (2018), Lyn Williams OAM (2017), Brett Dean (2016), Archie Roach AM (2015), Mike Nock (2014) and Kev Carmody (2013).

Roberts won the Ros Bower Award, for an artist or arts worker who has “made an outstanding and sustained contribution to community arts and cultural development.”

Manirakiza, a former child soldier from war-torn Burundi turned Melbourne rapper, was acknowledged for using hip hop to create interactive workshops for young people from marginalised communities in Victoria.

Other wins were in dance, theatre, literature, visual arts, and emerging & experimental art.

Bridie’s honour comes the same week of the release of his first solo album in six years, The Wisdom Line (MGM), a multi-media collaboration with filmmakers and visual artists.

Its launch is followed by two launch event screenings in Melbourne and a national tour in June

Roberts’ Boomerang festival, which she co-founded, is staged as part of Bluesfest Byron Bay.