Baker Boy sweeps 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin
The 2026 Nimas ceremony celebrated a new generation of Indigenous talent while inducting legends into the Hall of Fame, marking a significant moment for Australian music culture.
Yolŋu hip-hop artist Baker Boy dominated the 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin, securing album, song, and film clip of the year for his sophomore release, Djandjay. The ceremony, held in the Northern Territory, highlighted the evolution of Indigenous music, with Baker Boy’s work standing out for its deeper lyrical themes and heavier sound compared to his 2021 debut, Gela.
Accepting the top accolades, Baker Boy dedicated the album to his late grandmother, crediting her with introducing hip-hop to Arnhem Land after she returned from a Los Angeles honeymoon with vinyl records and VHS tapes. These archives inspired his father and uncle to form the 1980s dance duo the Baker Boys. Baker described the album as a manifestation of his persona, noting its staunch feel and vulnerability, and stated that his grandmother gave him the confidence to express his identity without shame.
The album’s hit single, Thick Skin, featuring Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee’ahn, and Jada Weazel, won both song and film clip of the year. Baker Boy revealed the track was written in response to the Voice to Parliament referendum, describing a feeling of hitting a "brick wall" that compelled him to speak his voice. The accompanying music video was filmed at the colonial-era Werribee Mansion in Victoria, a location Baker Boy described as an act of taking back authority and asserting Blak excellence by flipping the narrative of the site.
Butchulla cousins Birdz and Fred Leone were named artist of the year for their joint six-track EP, GIRA. Birdz, who grew up in Katherine, thanked the territory for shaping his inspiration, while Yolŋu musician Drifting Clouds (Terry Guyula) took home best new talent. Guyula, known for his synth-driven tracks with Yolŋu Matha lyrics, accepted the award alongside producer Zac Terry, thanking him for bringing him from the bush to the city.
The ceremony also honoured long-standing contributions to the genre, inducting Guguyelandji and Woppaburra musician Marlene Cummins and Galiwin’ku’s Saltwater Band into the Nimas Hall of Fame. Jessica Mauboy presented the award, praising the band’s three-decade legacy of blending traditional Yolŋu song with reggae, ska, and contemporary music. Mauboy noted that their success demonstrated that artists could carry their culture with them while chasing their dreams, a sentiment Baker Boy echoed, recalling growing up dancing to the band’s performances.