Stephen Albert (actor)

Stephen "Baamba" Albert (1950 – 13 November 2019[1][2]) was an Indigenous Australian actor and singer. He starred in the musicals Bran Nue Dae and Corrugation Road.[3]

Albert was born in the Western Australian town of Broome. He grew up with his mother, a Bardi woman, and his stepfather, a Japanese man who had worked in Broome's pearling industry. He was influenced by members of his extended family who had learnt orchestral instruments at the leprosarium near Derby.[4] Initially taking up training as an apprentice diesel mechanic, his professional musical career began in 1968 with the band Broome Beats, which fused Indigenous, Asian, and European musical influences.[4][5] His performance career included working for Jimmy Chi in Bran Nue Dae and Corrugation Road, as the sidekick for Mary G,[6] appeared in the SBS drama series The Circuit[7] and presented the Bobtales TV series.

Albert was also the first chairman of the National Aboriginal Education Committee[5] and was the director of Goolarri Media.[7]

Albert was part of the local community who formed the Broome Aboriginal Media Association who own the Goolarri Media Enterprises. Goolarri Media operate tw0 TV stations and one radio station broadcasting from Broome in the Kimberley region.[8][9] He died at a Perth hospital on 13 November 2019, aged 69.[2]

References
  1. "Debut album for Broome's musical treasure Baamba". ABC Kimberley WA. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  2. Hirini, Rangi (15 November 2019). "Kimberley legend Stephen 'Baamba' Albert passes away". NITV. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  3. ABC TV, George Negus Tonight Interview With Stephen ‘Baamba’ Albert, 11/08/2003
  4. Collins, Ben; Tomlin, Sam; Mills, Vanessa (16 November 2019). "Bran Nue Dae's Stephen 'Baamba' Albert remembered for acting, music and helping Indigenous Australians". ABC News. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  5. 2009 WA Citizen of the Year Award Finalists
  6. Sydney Morning Herald Snap, cackle and pop by Katrina Lobley, May 28, 2005
  7. WA Today Broome and the Kimberley become the latest movie set
  8. "Communications and the Arts AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS ACT 1992 NOTICE OF ISSUE OF TRANSMITTER LICENCES UNDER SECTION 106 OF THE Radiocommuncations Act 1992". Commonwealth Of Australia Gazette Government Notices (GN45). Australia. 12 November 1997. p. 3285. Retrieved 27 June 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "About Goolarri". pandora.nla.gov.au. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
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