'A voice for generations': The impact of Archie Roach, told by those who know and love him
From the top of Arnhem Land, where musicians draw inspiration from his timeless words, to the streets of Melbourne’s Fitzroy, where fans leave floral tributes on the steps of Charcoal Lane, it seems like nowhere in the country hasn’t been touched by Archie Roach.
His sons, Amos and Eban, said Archie died surrounded by his family and loved ones at Warrnambool Base Hospital in Victoria.
Archie’s family has given permission to use his name, image and music.
But the love Archie feels goes far beyond that hospital ward, far beyond state lines and color lines to every corner of the land we call Australia.
Archie left a legacy of tireless work towards reconciliation and a new generation inspired to carry his message of healing into the future.
As Australia comes to terms with the loss of one of its greatest storytellers, those touched by Archie open up about what it means to them.
‘He kept fighting, he kept fighting, he kept believing’
Goanna vocalist Shane Howard, longtime friend of Archie and his wife, Ruby Hunter, is deeply emotional over the death of a man she considered a brother.
It’s very raw. It’s very real. It’s a huge loss, but I thought Ruby might call him home,” Howard said.
The pair toured Australia, England and Ireland with the Black Arm Band and met just days before Archie’s death.
Recalling his friend as a “deep cultural creature”, Howard said Australians mourning Archie’s death should continue the reconciliation work that singer Gunditjmara (Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung) has done for most of his life.
“His ability to keep forgiveness up front – after all that has happened to him and all that has happened to the First Nations people here in this country – his capacity to keep believing that we can reconcile this nation, that we can be a just and a just nation. fair,” he said.
It comes as discussions revolve around enshrining the Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Constitution, an issue that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised to resolve as soon as possible.
“Archie’s passing reminds us that we must redouble our efforts, and the best way to honor him is to honor those things,” Howard said.
“There’s still a lot going wrong and Archie knows it, but he keeps fighting, he keeps fighting, he keeps believing.”
‘He took the words we couldn’t say’
Beyond his legacy as one of Australia’s most celebrated songwriters, Archie’s passing carries special meaning for the Stolen Generation.
Born in Mooroopna, in Victoria, Archie was just three years old when he was forcibly removed from his family.
Yorta Yorta man and Stolen Generation survivor Ian Hamm said he was shaken after hearing the news of Archie’s death.
“When I heard it, it was like a shadow of gray fell on me,” Hamm said.
“Archie is someone special in his ability to tell stories and songs and bring to life what it means to be an ordinary Aboriginal person.”
For Mr Hamm, Archie’s music provided an outlet for unspeakable pain and a way to understand his own traumatic experience.
“He took the words we couldn’t pronounce and he turned them into songs so our voices could be heard,” he said.
“When we couldn’t articulate what it meant on a truly human level, the song ‘They Take the Kids’, it just said it all for us.”
Mr Hamm said Archie’s strength and courage in sharing his own story was crucial in building initiatives such as the Stolen Generations Compensation scheme.
“I don’t think we will see anything like him again and I can only hope that we will never forget that we are lucky enough to be blessed by his presence,” he said.
Writer and broadcaster Daniel James interviewed Archie many times and described the singer as a “strong but humble presence”.
“He is someone [who] not the voice of his generation, he is the voice of generations,” said James.
James said Archie was an integral part of starting the conversation around truth-telling in Australia.
“It sounds counterintuitive, but there’s nothing performative about the music,” he said.
“He is someone [who] singing into the void before the audience was ready to hear what he had to say.
“And then, finally, the void is filled with the audience and then, finally, the audience is filled with love. Love for him, love for his music.”
Load
‘We want to do it the same way our Uncle Archie did’
For Aboriginal musicians like Victor Rostron, Archie’s story is an inspiration.
“We are here at Garma because we have seen our parents tell stories, sing songs, from their hearts,” he said.
“His music tells a story from his heart.”
Based in Maningrida in northeast Arnhem Land, Rostron played in the Indigenous rock band Wildfire Munwurrk and wanted to emulate the power of Archie’s music.
“He was our mentor, and we wanted to do it the same way our Uncle Archie did, very strong and strong,” he said.
Rostron said Archie’s signature song, ‘Took the Children Away’, carried an important message not only to people in Australia, but to people around the world.
“Me and my kids, we will miss him,” he said.
“His music really means a lot, and we don’t want his music to stop, we want his music to be a memory for him and stay there forever.”
‘Song can be a medicine to heal’
For opera singer Deborah Cheetham, Archie’s disappearance represents the loss of a pillar of Australian society.
“Today our world has changed forever. Our job has become much more difficult because Uncle Archie holds so much value in the spirit of our nation,” said Cheetham.
Cheetham said Archie’s deep connection to music allowed his message to transcend racial boundaries and unite nations.
“The understanding, deep in his DNA, that a song is more than just a song,” he said.
“A song can be a medicine to heal the many wounds that have befallen not only the indigenous people of this country but also [also] to every Australian.
“It’s often said that we stand on the shoulders of giants,” said Cheetham.
“All of Australia can tell it stands on the shoulders of a giant in Uncle Archie.”
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