Awa showcases young international performers

THE Centre for Multicultural Youth’s virtual choir, band, art, and dance performance piece, Awa, went live on YouTube from Sunday the public to view.

The project has digitally united artistic young people in Ghana with peers in Ballarat, Horsham, Nhill – some of which are also Karen refugees, South Sudanese, and Indian or Filipino migrants.

Awa is the title of a traditional Ghanaian children’s song that has been rearranged by musical director, Coco Sounds’ Stella Savy.

Working with Savy’s husband, Mishael Gyabeng, and a similar youth foundation he has links to in Ghana, CMY facilitated cyber-safe online rehearsals during the COVID-19 lockdown to introduce youths to other cultures and skills.

These sessions prepared them to film singing, instrumental, dance or artistic parts, which have been edited into one video, inspired by the Couch Choir.

On Saturday night a digital, red carpet launch of the clip was held with participants beaming in, in fancy dress, from regional Victoria and Ghana to celebrate.

Refreshment packs were delivered to the young people so they could gather at their devices with food and drinks while they watched the video and socialised with their friends and collaborators.

Minister for Youth, Ros Spence was invited to the premiere.

Watch here.