Stephen "Baamba" Albert (1950 – 13 November 2019) was an Indigenous

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...

actor and singer. He starred in the musicals ''

Bran Nue Dae __NOTOC__ ''Bran Nue Dae'' is a 1990 musical set in Broome, Western Australia, that tells stories and of issues relating to Indigenous Australians. It was written by Jimmy Chi and his band Kuckles and friends, and was the first Aboriginal Aust ...

'' and ''

Corrugation Road ''Corrugation Road'' is an Australian musical set in a mental hospital, about an Aboriginal schizophrenic patient. It was written by Jimmy Chi, his band Kuckles and friends, the creators of ''Bran Nue Dae''. It is based on Chi's own experienc ...

''. ABC TV,

George Negus Tonight ''George Negus Tonight'' (formerly titled ''Dimensions'') was an Australian current affairs television series hosted by George Negus, which ran on ABC Television from 2001 to 2004. ''Dimensions'' The program was initially launched in 2001 as '' ...

br>Interview With Stephen ‘Baamba’ Albert, 11/08/2003
/ref> Albert was born in the Western Australian town of Broome. He grew up with his mother, a Bardi woman, and his stepfather, a Japanese man who had worked in Broome's pearling industry. He was influenced by members of his extended family who had learnt orchestral instruments at the

leprosarium A leper colony, also known by #Names, many other names, is an isolated community for the quarantining and treatment of lepers, people suffering from leprosy. ''Mycobacterium leprae, M. leprae'', the bacterium responsible for leprosy, is believ ...

near

Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

. Initially taking up training as an apprentice diesel mechanic, his professional musical career began in 1968 with the band Broome Beats, which fused Indigenous, Asian, and European musical influences.2009 WA Citizen of the Year Award Finalists
/ref> His performance career included working for

Jimmy Chi James Ronald Chi (1948 – 26 June 2017) was an Australian composer, musician and playwright. His best known work is the 1990 musical ''Bran Nue Dae'', which was adapted for film in 2009. Early life and education James Ronald Chi was born in B ...

in ''

'' and ''

'', as the sidekick for

Mary G Mark Bin Bakar is an Indigenous Australian musician, comedian and radio announcer, writer, director/producer as well as an indigenous rights campaigner based in Broome, in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. He is best known for his r ...

Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper in ...

br>Snap, cackle and pop
by Katrina Lobley, May 28, 2005 appeared in the SBS drama series '' The Circuit''WA Toda
Broome and the Kimberley become the latest movie set
/ref> and presented the '' Bobtales'' TV series. Albert was also the first chairman of the National Aboriginal Education Committee and was the director of Goolarri Media. Albert was part of the local community who formed the Broome Aboriginal Media Association who own the Goolarri Media Enterprises. Goolarri Media operate two TV stations and one radio station broadcasting from Broome in the Kimberley region. He died at a Perth hospital on 13 November 2019, aged 69.

References

External links

Australian Film Commission
Stephen "Baamba" Albert

Stephen "Baamba" Albert
Short Biography
Stephen "Baamba" Albert
Baamba's 2015 album Baad
{{DEFAULTSORT:Albert, Stephen 1950 births 2019 deaths Australian male singers Indigenous Australian musicians Indigenous Australian male actors People from Broome, Western Australia