Mitch Tambo & Voice of Lele incursion

We are looking forward to welcoming Mitch Tambo and Lea Tambo (Voice of Lele) to EHPS next Tuesday, 14 May, for a whole school incursion.

As part of the highly acclaimed ‘Walanbaa Youth Tour’, Mitch will provide his First Nations informative, interactive, and incredibly fun cultural presentation exploring various topics, including culture, identity, belonging, self-care, bullying, and empowerment, among other topics relevant to children and young people's development. With a background as a qualified social worker, Mitch connects with children and young people, making his presentations all the more engaging and impactful. Lele will present workshops focussing on issues she is most passionate about – those of culture, language and empowerment - encouraging young people to create positive and meaningful change.

Mitch Tambo is undoubtedly one of Australia's most unique and electrifying First Nations entertainers, oftenhailed as "the new voice of our generation." His debut album, "Guurrama-Li," made an indelible mark on themusic charts, rapidly ascending to top positions not only in Australia but also in the UK, US, Europe, Asia, and New Zealand upon its release. 

In February 2020, Mitch mesmerised audiences with his performance of the single 'Together' as part of Eurovision Australia Decides. He also left an indelible mark on the historic Fire Fight Concert, closing it with a stirring rendition of 'You’re the Voice' alongside icons like John Farnham, Olivia Newton-John, and Queen's Brian May, creating a performance for the ages. 

Mitch's commitment to artistic diversity shone through with the release of 'LOVE,' an upbeat anthem sung in his Gamilaraay language, and his electrifying electro-pop Gamilaraay language version of Vanessa Amorosi’s 'Absolutely Everybody.' Adding to his list of accomplishments, Mitch released the anthemic song "Heal" and delivered a breathtaking rendition of the holiday classic 'Silent Night.' Mitch's talent has also earned him nominations for two Golden Guitar Awards, recognizing his outstanding contributions to 'Come Together,' alongside Lee Kernaghan and Isaiah Firebrace, for Vocal Collaboration of the Year and Heritage Song of the Year. 

In 2023, Mitch continued to captivate audiences with a version of the anthemic ICEHOUSE classic, 'Great Southern Land,' featuring Reigan. This timeless track, first released in August 1982, still resonates today with its passionate message. With Mitch and Reigan singing in Gamilaraay and English, the song underwent an emotive makeover, receiving rave reviews. Most recently, Mitch released his latest single, 'Yugal Yulu-gi,' an electrifying pop anthem that marked his tenth consecutive #1 iTunes Worldwide Chart success.

On stage, Mitch's performances are nothing short of electrifying. Throughout his career, he has led processions, showcased First Nations dance, and performed at prestigious venues worldwide. Highlights include the canonization of Australia’s first Saint, Mary McKillop, as well as performances at events such as Expo 2020 (Dubai), the Australian Commercial Radio Awards, the Langkawi Island Music Festival, the Melbourne Didgeridoo Festival, Australian Open, Channel 9 Upfronts, Rugby World Cup, T20, NRL Indigenous All Stars, Carols by Candlelight, and the 50th anniversary of Australia and Vietnam relations at the Opera House in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Beyond his musical prowess, Mitch is an accomplished presenter, hosting Blak Excellence for Meta, Yarning Strong online and live series, and the children's TV series Muso Magic Outback Tracks, a production that showcases and celebrates positive stories in remote Aboriginal communities. Mitch has even lent his voice to the character Tez the Echidna in an ‘Outback Christmas’ episode. 

During Covid, Mitch engaged with his fans through his online content series TAMBO TALK on Facebook, featuring appearances by Ash London, Casey Donovan, Larry Emdur, and more. His television credits include appearances on Today Show, Sunrise, The Project, The Morning Show, Today Extra, Q+A, among other television shows locally and abroad. 

Mitch recently embarked on a national tour collaborating with the creative team behind the global success Burn the Floor. The new works, titled Burn the Floor: Walanbaa Yulu-gi, represent a groundbreaking and inspirational journey that embraces a mix of First Nations culture and music with ballroom and Latin dancestyles. Backed with a soundtrack of Australian rock classics and Mitch’s own musical compositions, this extraordinary production is driven by the energy and passion of 20 dancers, vocalists, and musicians, creating an unforgettable experience for audiences worldwide. 

Mitch's commitment to social causes is equally noteworthy. He serves as Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador for Support Act and is their Ambassador for Aus Music T-shirt Day. He has collaborated with Commercial Radio Australia on The Voice mental health campaign across Australian radio and has previously been a UNICEF ambassador. His unwavering commitment to social change continues to make him a remarkable force in both the entertainment industry and the broader community. Mitch played a pivotal role by performing his bilingual version of "You're the Voice," standing in for John Farnham, to launch the "Yes" campaign in the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum. The song serves as the evocative soundtrack for a video advertisement directed by filmmaker Warwick Thornton, which is being widely embraced on social media, digital platforms, and television. 

Mitch is a qualified social worker. He recently expanded his reach by contributing opinion pieces for Mamamia, 9 Honey, and Stellar.

Mitch Tambo on YouTube

Mitch Tambo in Instagram

Lele is a remarkable individual—a refugee, singer, proud West Papuan woman, mother of four daughters, and the wife of Australian world music star, Mitch Tambo. She is also a passionate advocate for refugee women in Australia and a dedicated decolonisation activist. 

Lele and her family, now residing in Melbourne, were granted refugee status after seeking safety in Australia in 1988.

Music has played a pivotal role in Lele's life from a young age, thanks to her late father, Agustinus Rumwaropen, a revered cultural song man. He not only influenced Lele's musical journey but also instilled in her the belief that she could share her culture and songs with the world. Agustinus Rumwaropen was the lead singer and composer of the Black Brothers Band, a group that not only filled stadiums across the Pacific and Indonesia but also paved the way for many other Melanesian artists. 

Fueled by her passion for music and her unwavering commitment to raising awareness about the struggles of West Papua, Lele, along with her sisters, embarked on their own musical journey, forming "The Black Sistaz." This talented group of sisters toured the world, sharing their music alongside renowned artists like UB40, Julian Marley, Michael Franti, Katchafire, Natiruts, George Telek, Edou, and SOJA. Their performances graced prestigious music festivals worldwide, including Cali Roots in Monterey (USA), Mundial (Netherlands), Glastonbury (UK), Montreal International Jazz Festival (CA), Ottawa Blues Festival (CA), Winnipeg Folk Festival (CA), Ostroda Reggae Festival (POL), WOMADelaide (AUS), and Woodford Folk Festival (AUS). They even had the honour of opening for the Rugby League World Cup in 2017. 

Committed to inspiring the next generation of performers, Lele collaborated proudly with her husband, Mitch Tambo, on a cultural exchange project known as "The West Papuan Youth Projects," uniting the Melbourne West Papuan and Aboriginal communities. This collaboration resulted in a new song that celebrated the strengths of both cultures and received radio airplay on Triple J and other stations across Australia and the Pacific. 

In 2019, Lele took a temporary hiatus from "The Black Sistaz" to join Mitch Tambo on stage. During this time, she toured extensively with him across Australia and internationally, broadening her experiences and connecting with diverse communities. Lele's travels allowed her to work closely with vulnerable youth and members of the wider Aboriginal community. She became an integral part of Mitch's "Walanbaa" workshops, focusing on topics closest to her heart—culture, language, and empowerment. Through these initiatives, she encouraged young people and individuals from culturally diverse backgrounds to create positive and meaningful change. 

Lele recently took on the lead role as a featured vocalist in the Australian national touring production of "Burn the Floor: Walanbaa Yulu-gi." This groundbreaking and inspirational journey combines First Nations culture and music with ballroom and Latin dance styles. Backed by a soundtrack of Australian rock classics and Mitch's own musical compositions, this extraordinary production is brought to life by the energy and passion of 20 dancers, vocalists, and musicians, creating an unforgettable experience for audiences worldwide. 

Lele is currently in the studio recording new music. Her music continues to be a celebration of identity, rooted in a strong legacy, and fueled by an unwavering passion to continue the journey. Her music carries a message, and with that message, a movement. As one of the first West Papuan refugee families in Australia, Lele and her family musically convey the experience of living a life in exile.