Kankawa Nagarra

Kankawa Nagarra is a Walmatjarri Elder, international blues and gospel singer-songwriter, teacher, mentor, human rights advocate and political activist, also known as Olive Knight.

With roots in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, Kankawa found her voice in the country, blues and rock music of her youth which was spent in missions across the state.

Despite a rough start in life, her natural talent and generous spirit led her to a career in music, with performances spanning local gospel choir stages to singing with Hugh Jackman on Broadway.

As well as this, Kankawa was central in developing the Walmajarri dictionary to preserve her local language and continues to bring greater awareness of and prevention efforts to end substance abuse within Indigenous communities across Australia.