ABSTRACT
The preservation of performance traditions is one of the highest priorities for Indigenous people, as it is through song, dance and associated ceremony that Indigenous people maintain lore and a sense of self within the world. Without immediate action, many Indigenous music and dance traditions are in danger of extinction. The Yugambeh Mobo Festival is an annual community festival developed and staged by the Yugambeh Museum, Language and Heritage Research Centre, situated in Beenleigh, Queensland, Australia. This chapter presents a case study focusing on the extent to which the Yugambeh Language and Song Project (YLSP), in the Yugambeh language region, highlighting the Yugambeh Youth Choir (YYC). It demonstrates that the power of the festival can be viewed as a communication vehicle for the development of social capital and as a vehicle for safeguarding culture. The chapter discusses the final theme, developing social capital and safeguarding Australian Aboriginal culture through authentic performance at festivals and events.
