Jamaica Moana

Jamaica Moana is THE non-binary Māori (Ngāpuhi/Tainui) and Samoan rapper, songwriter, creative director and ballroom icon reshaping what hip-hop from “down under” can be. Based in Western Sydney on Dharawal and Gadigal land, Jamaica fuses hard-hitting rap, R&B and club electronics with ancestral fire, ballroom attitude and fierce queer identity. A leader in the Australian ballroom scene and co-founder of The West Ball, Jamaica builds stages where queer, trans and BIPOC communities can take up space on their own terms. Her debut EP BUD & DENI (2025) channels grief, legacy and life in Western Sydney into razor-sharp, deeply personal anthems. After years of cultivating a cult following across clubs, fashion runways and spaces like Dark Mofo, Phoenix Central Park and Sydney Festival, Jamaica now brings her explosive show to SXSW Austin as the inaugural Walk to Austin Award recipient.