Indigenous Artists Join Together For NAIDOC Week On TikTok

TikTok is celebrating Australia’s Indigenous culture, history and creators to mark NAIDOC Week 2020. The week-long programming initiative is part of the platform’s commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive community and elevating First Nations peoples and culture.

To recognise First Nations Australians and highlight this year’s NAIDOC Week theme ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’, TikTok will host a series of live musical performances, showcase curated Indigenous content and feature First Nations creators across the platform. TikTok will also encourage the celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and achievements by inviting users to post using the hashtag #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe.

Throughout the week, which officially runs from 8 – 15 November, TikTok will be putting a spotlight on a range of engaging curated videos from First Nations creators. Comedy champ @balaclint, makeup artist @sari_ella_thaiday, kitchen whiz (and dad who can feed six kids on $20) @kookingwithakoori, artist and dancer @katerinaleeroe and rising rapper @jmillaofficial, will offer the TikTok community a chance to immerse in Australia’s rich Indigenous history, heritage, food and culture.

“TikTok has created a platform that allows people like me to tell their unique stories that people can relate to,” said TikTok creator @balaclint. “NAIDOC Week is important as it’s a time where we come together and celebrate the Indigenous community of Australia, teaching others about our culture and our ways.”

TikTok has also worked closely curator Emily Nicol, a Birri Gubba/Ugar Island woman, to produce its #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe music and performance program. The TikTok community will be invited to join First Nations artists LIVE every night during NAIDOC Week, for music, culture and Language. Nicol has also curated a Sounds playlist on the app, featuring the best Australian First Nations musical talent, spanning genre, decade and nation.

The nightly LIVE performance series will kick off at 8pm AEDT on Monday 9 November, running through until Friday 13 November on the @tiktok_australia account. The livestreams will feature emerging and well-known Indigenous artists, inviting users to experience and share in the cultural celebration. The lineup includes Baker Boy, J-MILLA, Kee’Ahn, Sycco and Mitch Tambo.

Lee Hunter, General Manager, TikTok Australia and New Zealand said, “TikTok is an incredibly diverse community and we’re passionate about celebrating Indigenous culture, both on and off the platform. I’m really excited about diving in to our NAIDOC program to watch talented First Nations creators showcase their creativity, listen to music and stories, and learn more about the experience of being Indigenous in Australia.”

TikTok has also commissioned Molly Hunt, a 23-year-old Balanggarra/Yolngu designer from Wyndham, Western Australia to create the graphics and artwork for NAIDOC Week on TikTok. Her illustrations are inspired by First Nation people.

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