Jimmy Chi

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Jimmy Chi was born in Broome, Western Australia, to a Scots/Bardi Aboriginal mother and a Chinese/Japanese/Australian father. He is a composer, musician and playwright.

His most acclaimed work was Bran Nue Dae, written in collaboration with his band Kuckles, The Pigram Brothers and friends. Bran Nue Dae, celebrates family, forgiveness and reconciliation, was a hit at the Festival of Perth in 1990 and went on to tour Australia extensively. it was Australia's most successful musical play at the time.

One of the famous verses from a song in the musical sums up Chi's dry humour and sharp political approach:

There's nothing I would rather be

Than to be an Aborigine

and watch you take my precious land away.

For nothing gives me greater joy

than to watch you fill each girl and boy

with superficial existential shit.

The musical won the prestigious Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award in 1990. The following year the published script and score won the Special Award in the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards.

It brought acclaim for many Aboriginal artists including Ernie Dingo, Josie Ningali Lawford and Leah Purcell. The musical's success was also instrumental in the formation of the Black Swan Theatre.

He also wrote the musical Corrugation Road, which toured Australia and broke box office records. It smashed taboos surrounding mental health, abuse, sexuality and religion with humour and optimism.

Both musicals played a significant role in the development and direction of Indigenous performance.

In 1990, Chi was awarded the Human Rights Award in the category of Literature and Other Writing for significantly contributing to the understanding of human rights issues in Australia. This award was followed by a Deadly Sounds National Indigenous Music Award for Excellence in Film or Theatre Score in 1999.

In 1997, he was presented with the Australia Council's Red Ochre Award for the lifetime achievement of an Indigenous artist. His songs have been covered by such artists as the Irish singer Mary Black, and Aboriginal singer Archie Roach.

Chi's music has come to represent the colour of Broome. Broome's Opera Under the Stars festival has featured Chi's Child of Glory, from Bran Nue Dae, at every festival since 1993. It has been adopted as this festival's theme song in tribute to Jimmy Chi. His hymns are regularly sung at Aboriginal funerals in Broome.

In 2004 he was acknowledged by the WA Government has a State Living Treasure. He now chooses to spend most of his time at home in Broome with his family and friends. In spite of life’s challenges, his work continues to be imbued with an underlying sense of hope and humanity.