By Callum Ludwig
Yarra Valley ECOSS is excited to bring a free cultural experience to the community this month.
Rhythms of the World will contain five different multicultural musical performances alongside an array of stalls and foods from 11am to 7pm on Saturday 21 October.
Market and Events Coordinator at Yarra Valley ECOSS Leanne Hall said the idea is to bring the world to the Valley.
“Melbourne is a very multicultural city and this is about giving people a more in-depth view into some of those cultures,” she said.
“We’re so lucky here to have so many different cultures and foods just by going out in Melbourne, come a long way from white bread and potatoes,”
“Often you have to go into the city still to experience these things so it’s great to be able to have it here.”
The performers will take attendees across four different continents, starting with our own;
A Welcome to Country will be led by Aunty Kim Wandin while Ganga Giri will also be providing a musical backdrop on the didgeridoo while The Djarlo Dancers perform an interactive performance and workshop later in the event, representing Australia and the culture of our First Nations people,
The Chin Community Dancers will be performing a traditional Harvest dance from Myanmar and then we will jump over to neighbouring India with the Sarita McHarg musical trio,
All the way from South America is the Baque Voador-Afro-Brazilian drumming group, with the opportunity for attendees to come and try a Brazilian Rhythms with Maracatu percussion workshop led by Humberto Porto,
Yarra Valley Drummers led by Ghanaian Master Drummer Kofi Kunkpe will be providing the tunes alongside a special appearance from African dance students led by Frank Adjei with both Kunkpe and Adjei preparing younger attendees to get groovin’ with a Kids’ African drum and dance workshop as well. Wala means life will also bolster the African offerings with some traditional West African rhythms and dance.
All acts will lead to a grand finale of multicultural dance fusion to cap off the day’s festivities.
Ms Hall said music and food really take us back to the roots.
“It’s a way that people have come together for centuries and you often see there’s a similar thread across different cultures like there’s going to be three different cultures performing a harvest dance on the day,” she said.
“ Too often, we focus on the differences and I think this is a great way of breaking down those barriers and bringing people together,”
“Developing a deeper understanding of different cultures really helps and it gives those cultures an opportunity to really share their traditions, their cultures, their music and their food.”
Rhythms of the World has been supported by funding from Yarra Ranges Council, Multicultural Victoria and the Upper Yarra Community Recovery Led Recovery Grants to be held for the Victorian Government’s Childrens Week.
