Archie Roach has taken home a Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for his memoir, Tell Me Why: The Story of My Life and My Music.
Tell Me Why: The Story of My Life and My Music details the life of Archie Roach, from growing up as a child of the Stolen Generation all the way to his career in music.
It was also accompanied by an album of the same title.
Roach won a prize in the Indigenous Writing category for the memoir.
“We need to understand and write about the First People’s experience and history as well [as migrants’ experiences],” wrote Roach in a statement.
“Because they’re both connected, they’re intertwined. We can’t separate the two, really.”
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Award has six categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Drama, Poetry, Prize for Indigenous Writing, and Writing for Young Adults.
Each category offers a $25k cash prize, which Roach took home for his win.
“Books and writing have always been important, but in the past 12 months they were a life-line – keeping us entertained, informed, inspired and connected,” said Victorian Minister for Creative Industries, Danny Pearson.
“Congratulations to this year’s winners and nominees, for bringing your voice, imagination and perspective to readers across the globe this past year.”
Archie Roach was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame last year.
“To be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame is validation that no matter where you have come from and the struggles that you had to overcome through the years, that you can achieve great things if you set your mind and heart to it,” Roach said in a statement at the time.
Listen to ‘Took The Children Away’ from Tell Me Why: The Story of My Life and My Music below.
