Jimi Bani Jimi Bani i(A151874 works by)
Gender: Male
Heritage: Aboriginal ; Torres Strait Islander
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BiographyHistory

Jimi Bani, television actor, comes from Thursday Island: his father was a tribal chief of the Wagadagam people of Mabuiag Island, Torres Strait.

Bani studied at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Since graduating from WAAPA, Bani has performed in several theatrical plays, including the lead role in Jandamarra for Black Swan Theatre Company in WA, Romeo and Juliet for the Sydney Theatre Company, Yibiyung for Company B Belvoir in association with Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne, and Krakouer! for Deckchair Theatre in Perth. He has also performed in the theatrical version of The Sapphires, for both the Black Swan Theatre Company and Company B, touring to both London and Korea.

Jimi's first television appearance was in the 2006 mini-series RAN: Remote Area Nurse.

His more recent television roles were in the ABC drama The Straits in 2012, and the lead role as Eddie Koiko Mabo in the television movie Mabo. (Source: www.abc.net.au; en.wikipedia.org; and Torres News)


Awards

  • Helpmann Award - nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Yibiyung
  • WA Equity Foundation Award
  • nomination for Best Actor for Jandamarra
  • Deadly Award 2012, Actor of the Year for Mabo

Most Referenced Works

Personal Awards

2017 finalist National Dreamtime Awards — Male Actor of the Year
2013 nominated Logie Awards — Most Outstanding Actor For Mabo.
VIEW ALL AWARDS

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon My Name Is Jimi 2017 Fortitude Valley : Playlab , 2022 11423789 2017 single work drama

'Mabuiag Island: a remote speck in the sparkling blue of the Torres Strait. Thousands of years of rich history and culture, with just a few hundred people keeping its flame. Now its favourite son is joking in three languages with his grandmother and torturing his son with spontaneous public break-dancing. Charismatic actor Jimi Bani (Mabo, The Straits, Redfern Now) whisks you away to his island for an eveing of music, dance, stand-up and storytelling.

'Four generations of one family take the stage, as Jimi's grandmother, mother, son and brothers help him spin yarns of totems, traditions and childhood memories. The islanders have lived through dark times and light, and this intimate show examines the challenges and tragedies they have faced with hope, honesty and humour, looking towards a bright tomorrow.

'My Name is Jimi is the story of a small community of people clinging tightly to each other, and fighting to protect what really matters, in whirling chaos of a rapidly changing world.' (Production summary)
2017 nominated Matilda Awards — Best New Australian Play
VIEW ALL AWARDS
Last amended 1 Nov 2017 16:00:42
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