# Kankawa Nagarra

Kankawa Nagarra (born circa 1943), (also known as Olive Knight) is an Aboriginal Australian blues and gospel singer-songwriter and author. She sings in Walmajarri, Kimberley Creole and English. Her 2024 album Wirlmarni won the Australian Music Prize.

## Early life

Nagarra was born circa 1943 in Kimberley (Western Australia) She is a Gooniyandi and Walmatjarri elder.
At the age of 8, Nagarra was taken from her parents and sent to a mission in the Wangkatjungka Community. She one of the Stolen Generations.
Nagarra discovered gospel, country, rock and blues music whilst working on homesteads via the radio.
Nagarra learned to play a cousin's guitar when she was in her 20s. She said, "At the time, there was a cultural thing, women weren't allowed to touch anything made of wood, we were forbidden to even go near the guitar, because it was a men's wooden instrument." Nagarra bought her first guitar at age 40.

## Performing career

In March 2011, Knight released Gospel Blues at the Edge of the Desert. She supported Hugh Jackman's Hugh Jackman: Back on Broadway concert residency from October 2011 to January 2012 in New York City. About the performance, Knight said "Singing on a Broadway stage backed by an 18-piece orchestra, visiting New York's blues and jazz clubs … security guards, private chauffeurs ... it was a dream. You have to pinch yourself."
In 2013, Knight released Kan-Kawa Contemporary Gospel & Blues.
In 2014, Knight received $12,500 via the Western Australia Regional Arts Fund which provided Knight the opportunity to work with professional musicians at James Newhouse's studio. With the assistance of this funding, Knight was recorded her third album project Olive has produced the album, Heroes & Laments: Walmatjarri Stories which was released in April 2015.
In 2019, Nagarra toured the United States and Europe alongside Hugh Jackman again, as part of the production, The Man. The Music. The Show..
In December 2024, Nagarra won the 20th Australian Music Prize for Wirlmarni. Upon hearing this, she said "I dedicate this award to all my little Greats with a special mention to Tykrira Wilson who stands with me on the cover of the album. I love them all very much. They are my future ancestors."

## Personal life

In the 1960s, Nagarra assisted in the development of the Walmatjarri dictionary.
Nagarra is a teacher, human rights advocate and political activist.
Nagarra works to raise awareness about youth suicide and substance abuse within Aboriginal communities.
In 2016, Nagarra released the autobiography, The Bauhinia Tree: The Life of Kankawa Olive Knight.
She is honorifically known as "The Queen of The Bandaral Ngadu Delta".

## Discography
### Albums

| Title | Album details |
| Gospel Blues at the Edge of the Desert (as Olive Knight) | Released: March 2011 Format: digital download Label: Desert Feet Records |
| Kan-Kawa Contemporary Gospel & Blues (as Olive Knight) | Released: November 2013 Format: digital download Label: Desert Feet Records |
| Heroes & Laments: Walmatjarri Stories (as Olive Knight) | Released: April 2015 Format: CD, digital download Label: Desert Feet Records |
| Wirlmarni | Released: August 2024 Format:CD, LP, digital download Label: Flippin' Yeah Records |

## Awards and nominations
### Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $50,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. They commenced in 2005.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2024 | Wirlmarni | Australian Music Prize | Won | |

### Western Australia Women's Hall of Fame

| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2024 | Kankawa Nagarra | Western Australia Women's Hall of Fame | inducted | |