Composed on Thursday Island in 2019, Zenadth Kes celebrates the colours and meaning of the Torres Strait Islander Flag. Designed by the late Mr Bernard Namok and officially adopted in 1992, the flag holds equal national significance to the Aboriginal Flag. This song was created in collaboration with Torres Strait Songwomen, representing their island communities, as a tribute to the deep cultural identity and vital contributions of Torres Strait Islanders to Australia’s story.

Zenadth Kes — the islander's name for the Torres Strait — lies between the tip of Australia and Papua New Guinea, where the Pacific and Indian Oceans meet. The song also promotes the region’s official name, Zenadth Kes, a term proposed by Mr Patrick Whop and Mr Adhi Ephraim Bani.

The first word Zenadth is an acronym based on Kala Lagaw Ya wind directions and geographical terms; the second word Kes, is a Meriam word, incorporating both traditional languages of Zenadth Kes.

ZE – Zey (South) in Kala Lagaw Ya

NA – Naygay (North) in Kala Lagaw Ya

D – Dagam (Place/Side) in Kala Lagaw Ya

TH – Thawathaw (Coastline) in Kala Lagaw Ya

KES – Passage/Channel/Waterway in Meriam Mir

Playing the ukulele is suitable for this song as Torres Strait music, or ailan songs, have adopted the ukulele for multiple generations due to influences from across the Pacific including Hollywood hula.