Benjamin Druitt

Benjamin (Benny) is a proud Wiradjuri man and a researcher and musicologist based at University of Sydney (Eora Nation, Gadigal land).

Over past years he has been teaching and facilitating workshops in the field of song writing, linguistics and musicology. His focus in recent years has been on contemporary Australian indigenous music and the stylist and cultural changes within it.

Benny’s music explores cultural exchange and revitalisation within the post/anti-colonial Australian context. He is the recipient of the Gregg Indigenous Scholarship, The Gadigal Scholarship and the ACYA (Australia China Youth Association) Scholarship.

In 2023 he graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor in Music Studies, with a division one honours in Musicology. In recent years his thematic focus has been in community engagement and understanding. His recent thesis “Roots and Reverberation : History and Identity through lyrics and storytelling in Indigenous hip-hop” was completed under the supervision of Toby Martin and Myfany Turpin. Benny is interested in cross-cultural exchange and developing First Nation voices globally.

Through solidarity, radical listening, and cross-cultural collaboration his work focusses on the importance of preservation of history lost in translation due to western impact. The Witness Project is his first collaboration with Penan communities, established with the intention to further develop cross cultural connection and collaboration between Australian and Malaysian. In 2024 he will continue his research within the field and work at establishing cross cultural dialogues with musicians and researchers between Indigenous Australian and Penan practitioners.