A Powerful Way to Support Indigenous Languages
In Australia, a popular singer is using his music to support indigenous languages — that is, languages spoken by native people who were the first to live in a region. Josh Pyke, an award-winning songwriter and performer, is working with primary schools to save Australia’s disappearing indigenous languages.
His project, called Busking for Change, gives students a chance to sing songs written in indigenous languages.
This year, special performances are scheduled for September 6, which is also Indigenous Literacy Day.
Money raised from Mr. Pyke’s program will be used to help indigenous people obtain and create books in their own languages.
Preserving languages is important because they reflect a community’s history, culture, and thinking.
Songs are a powerful way to protect these languages because they are easy to remember and have repeated rhymes.
The school program’s theme song, Words Make The World Go Around, was created by Mr. Pyke with the help of indigenous students.
