Throughout 2021-2022, Wilkins has collaborated on music, art and poetry projects with six imprisoned refugees via zoom from their prison cells, and in 2022-23 shortly after they were released. They were imprisoned by the Australian government on Nauru, PNG and Australia for nine years for arriving by boat and seeking protection, victims of Australia's brutal refugee detention policies. Doctors Without Borders described conditions in Nauru refugee camps as "beyond desperate", UNHCR described it as "some of the worst conditions seen" and Amnesty International describes them as "cruel and extreme". Their art, poetry and music is about their detention experience. Wilkins regularly performs these collaborations.
JALAL MAHAMEDE
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"The work endures as an act of solidarity; evidence that creative possibilities can be endless, even when trapped and in despair" SYDNEY MORNING HERALD "Beautiful and sobering...an important story to tell" DOOBEDOO MUSIC MAGAZINE, NEW YORK |
Jalal Mahamede is poet, artist and Arab Ahwazi refugee who was imprisoned for 9 years, including 6 years on Nauru, by the Australian government, for arriving by boat and seeking protection. He draws from his personal experience to express his moods, feelings and visions through art and language, influenced by his late father Kazem Mahamede, a renowned traveling poet and photographer. Keyna recorded an album of his spoken poetry set to her music with 19 guest musicians. He was released 2 weeks after the album launch, and the album is widely believed to have contributed to his release.
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MOHAMMAD MALEKI
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Mohammad Maleki and Hessam Safaei are an Arab Ahwazi refugees imprisoned by the Australian government for 9 years including 6 years on the notorious Manus Isand prison camp. During his time on Manus Island, Maleki's poetry was published by Verity La, Rochford Press and many others. Wilkins recorded Maleki's poetry and wrote a piano composition to accompany it, with Safaie's art work. In 2022, incredibly, they were released into the Brisbane community just before the national election. In 2023 Wilkins is writing a song cycle for soprano and piano using the text of Mohammad's poetry. Spanish cellist Kathleen Balfe will perform Wilkins' composition "Exit" for cello and spoken or sing voice using Maleki's text. She is also collaborating with Michal Imielski on a sci-fi opera using some of Maleki's texts
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MUSA MUNGA MASUZO
Musa is a refugee from CONGO and has been in Kakuma Refugee Camp in KENYA for 7 years since he was 16 years old, with few ways of getting out. He recorded this song in his hut with his phone. Wilkins improvised a flute track and David Keys added drums and sound engineered the track in Studios 301, Sydney AUSTRALIA. Despite everything, Musa manages to maintain hope.
ADNAN CHOOPANI
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Adnan Choopani is an Arab Ahwazi refugee imprisoned by the Australian government for 9 years including 6 years on Nauru from when he was 16 years old. Keyna and Adanan recorded a cover of Pink Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamond via zoom from his prison cell (soon to be released on all streaming platforms). Keyna also collaborated with Adnan and his cousin Mehdi, also detained, on Bob Marley's We Shall Be Released. A few months later they were released into full USA citizenship with full rights and a life of dignity.
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MEHDI ALI
Mehdi Ali is an Arab Ahwazi refugee imprisoned by the Australian government for 9 years including 6 years on Nauru from when he was 15 years old. He recorded himself speaking one of his poems, Brown Nails, and Keyna composed a piano compositions to his poem, Brown Nails, accompanied also by his artwork. Keyna also did a free improvisation to his art works with drummer Shane Carpini Dec 2021. A few months later he was released with his cousin, Adnan Choopani, into full USA citizenship with full rights and a life of dignity.
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HELAL UDDIN
Helal Uddin (AKA Spicy) is a Banglaheshi refugee imprisoned in Papua New Guinea by Australia for 9 years for arriving by boat and seeking protection. He married a local woman and had a child, but was forcibly removed from his family and is now held in Bomana Prison, widely believed to be one of the worst prisons in the world. Bomana Prison normal food is a small bowl of rice and fish every day, so Spicy gets donations to buy fresh fruit and vegetables to cook healthy balanced meals for the 60 prisoners. Amnesty International will publish a book of his recipes and life story late 2022.
