Looking for something meaningful to do on January 26? You can head to Sydney University, where Indigenous-run social advocacy group We Are Warriors is once again bringing together a lineup of First Nations musicians, dancers, filmmakers and artists from across the country for a day dubbed Blak Powerhouse. The goal? To empower First Nations youth, share their art and push for action. Now entering its fourth year running, Blak Powerhouse returns to Manning House on the Sydney University campus for a free night of Blak pride and joy through live music and DJs, dance, panel discussions, weaving workshops, interactive art installations, market stalls and short film showcases. [caption id="attachment_1066365" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Nikhil Ninan[/caption] From 6pm, the event will open with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country from Aunty Nadeena Dixon and a dance performance from We Are Warriors founder, Nooky. Then come performances from Rapper Ziggy Ramo, R&B Soul vocalist Mi-Kaisha, hip hop rap duo Birdz & Fred Leone, rapper BARKAA and First Nations supergroup 3%. Elsewhere, panel discussions led by First Nations creatives Aretha Brown, Rudi Bremer, Travis De Vries and the We Are Warriors team will lead discussions of cultural practice, connection and power. For some keepsakes from the event, you can browse the market stalls all night, but you'll also find some potential new ink at Aretha Brown's Tattoo Parlour or a family portrait by WAW. You can try your hand at weaving in a workshop led by Aunty Dixon from 7pm, enjoy a short film showcase presented by We Are Warriors and Powerhouse, and get a feed from the food trucks on site. We Are Warriors was launched on January 26 in 2022 as an organisation dedicated to celebrating Blak excellence and fostering the next generation of First Nations creatives. In its first year, it delivered a feature presentation at Semi Permanent and launched WAW Fest as part of Vivid Sydney, before hosting the first Blak Powerhouse in 2023. We Are Warriors founder Corey Webster (aka Nooky) said, "Blak Powerhouse continues to be shaped by community, led by First Nations voices and grounded in deep cultural practice. We are honoured to partner with We Are Warriors to present this extraordinary, one-of-a-kind event to celebrate First Nations culture in Sydney on January 26." Blak Powerhouse will run at Murray House from 6 to 11pm on Monday, January 26. For more information or to book a ticket, visit the website. Top image: Nikhil Ninan
