Early life and education
Omar Musa was born in 1984 in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia, to a multicultural family. His father, Musa bin Masran, a published poet and former actor from Sandakan, [8] Sabah, Malaysia, immigrated to Sydney in 1980. He is of Suluk heritage, while Musa’s paternal grandmother is of Kedayan descent from the border areas between Malaysian Borneo and Brunei.
Musa’s mother, Helen Musa, of Irish extraction, is a former theatre director and historian who is now an arts journalist and critic. She currently serves as the arts editor for Canberra CityNews and has worked extensively in the arts field. [9]
Musa grew up in a block of flats in Queanbeyan, a satellite city of Canberra often referred to as "struggle town." He has described his upbringing as influenced by the cultural diversity of his Macedonian, Korean and Serbian neighbours, whose homes were filled with the scents of traditional cooking. He also witnessed social challenges within his community, including domestic violence, which he recalled in his 2013 TEDxSydney talk, Slam Poetry of the Streets. In the talk, he contrasted his childhood with the idealised image of Australia, stating that his experience held "no white sails of the Opera House ... no pavlova." [10]
Despite financial constraints, Musa was raised in an environment immersed in the arts. His parents, both strong advocates for artistic expression, provided him with access to cultural experiences such as concerts, exhibitions and theatre performances. This exposure played a significant role in shaping his creative development, and he has credited it as a formative influence on his artistic journey. [11]
Musa studied at the Australian National University and the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he honed his literary and artistic skills.
Career
Musa's career began in poetry, and he gained national attention as a runner-up in the 2007 Australian Poetry Slam. [12] He won the competition the following year, performing at the Sydney Opera House. He also won the Indian Ocean Poetry Slam in 2009. [13]
Much of Musa's early work explores themes of migration, Australian racism, violence, masculinity and loneliness. [4] He has published four poetry collections: The Clocks (2009), [14] Parang (2009), [15] Millefiori (2012), [16] and Killernova (2018). Parang, named after the Malay word for "machete," explores themes of his Malaysian heritage, migration, and loss. [1] [15] Millefiori and Killernova further delve into subjects such as identity, masculinity, and disempowerment. Musa's poetry is known for its poignant and reflective examination of cultural identity and personal struggles.
During a visit to family in Borneo, Musa developed an interest in woodcutting, which led him to incorporate his own woodcut artwork in Killernova, adding a visual element to his creative work. [17] Musa's fourth collection of poetry, Killernova, also features his woodcuts. [18]
Musa has collaborated with various musicians and hip-hop artists, including Kae Tempest, [19] Kae Tempest, Horrorshow, Kate Miller-Heidke, L-FRESH the LION, [20] Marc E. Bassy, Lior, Hau Latukefu from Koolism, Joelistics, The Last Kinection, Daniel Merriweather, Mantra, Akala, and Soweto Kinch. [21] His work frequently combines poetry with music, showcasing his versatility and ability to blend literary and musical expressions.
In 2014, Musa published his debut novel, Here Come the Dogs, [22] which centers on the lives of three disillusioned young men in small-town Australia. The novel examines issues of race, identity, and the struggles of marginalized youth. [22] 'The Los Angeles Times called the novel "rousing" and "searing", and said that "with compassion and urgency, Here Come the Dogs excavates the pain of those who struggle to remain part of a ruthless equation that has been determined by others." [23] Here Come the Dogs was nominated for numerous awards, such as the Miles Franklin Award [5] and the International Dublin Literary Award, [6] and won the People's Choice Award at the ACT Book of the Year Awards. [24] Musa was named one of the Sydney Morning Herald's Young Novelists of the Year and short-listed for the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards in 2015. [25]
In 2017, Musa released Since Ali Died, a full-length hip hop album featuring Sarah Corry, Amali Golden and Tasman Keith. [26] In 2018, he created a one-man play, Since Ali Died, based upon the album, that premiered at Griffin Theatre in Sydney, Australia. [27]
Musa continues to be an active figure in both the literary and artistic communities, using his diverse body of work to explore themes of identity, race, and the human experience.
