Multi faceted and iconically recognised producer Kuya James (aka James Mangohig) grew up in the tropical and multicultural city of Darwin; the capital of the Northern Territory on Larrakia land in Australia. The first born son to a Filipino migrant father and an Australian born Dutch mother, James would earn his stage name early in life simply by being the eldest. “Kuya” in the national Filipino tongue means “older brother”. A term of endearment and respect that he would gain not only from his biological family, but from the families he has made within communities spanning music, dance, culture and theatre; locally in Darwin, nationally and internationally.