One of Australia’s biggest hip-hop stars will swap the bright lights of the stage for a more intimate performance mentoring at-risk youth in the remote Indigenous community of Ngukurr next month.
Nigerian-born Australian singer-songwriter Tim Omaji, aka Timomatic, will converge on the community, about 300 kilometres east of Katherine, on April 8 and 9 to host a series of empowerment workshops and mentoring sessions as part of Roper Gulf Regional Council’s Right Path Project.
The project is targeted at youth under 24 from Ngukurr and Numbulwar, and will offer a range of sport and recreation activities, information sessions and support services designed to offer a pathway to increased engagement and self-esteem.
The excitement of participants will reach fever pitch on the Saturday night when Omaji gets Ngukurr dancing with a special live performance.
Omaji rose to fame after appearing on So You Think You Can Dance Australia as a contestant, before hosting rival program Australia’s Got Talent and going on to a successful recording career that has included supporting Nicki Minaj and Pitbull on their Australian tours.
The Council’s Community Services Regional Manager, Annalisa Bowden, said she believed youth would benefit from engaging with such a high-profile mentor in familiar surroundings.
“This is going to be a tremendous opportunity for children from Ngukurr and Numbulwar to meet one of their music heroes in their own backyard,” she explained.
“They have seen Timomatic on television and sung along to his music, so bringing him to community to meet with them face to face and talk about youth issues and empowerment as part of the Right Path Project is a perfect extension of that familiarity.
“During the event, participants will have an opportunity to access information and support services on a range of topics, including alcohol and other drugs, mental health, antisocial behaviour and employment, as well as listen to positive messages from Timomatic about the challenges he has overcome to now be a household name in Australia.”
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For further information, please contact the Communications Coordinator on 0427 674 212 or at roper.governance@ropergulf.nt.gov.au.