Vale Jeff Dobell

"He just wanted to do, rather than talk about it".

Engineering Aid Summer School

Dhanggal Gurruwiwi conducting a cultural induction for international visitors at Djalu's master class in 2008

Djalu Gurruwiwi, Master Yidaki Player & Craftsman, Galpu clan leader.

78 year old Djalu Gurruwiwi is one of the greatest living authorities on the yidaki, or what is known outside of Arnhem Land as the didgeridoo. Djalu's Galpu clan hold sacred knowledge of the playing, crafting and performative role of the yidaki.

Rripangu means lightning, it is Djalu's father's sacred name and was chosen to pay homage to him. It also signifies power and knowledge. Djalu explains: "'Rripangu' means lightning and all that lightning represents - it is a powerful symbol of my Galpu clan and, as lightning, I am strong and I do not fear anything". All Yolngu who hear the word "rripangu" know the significance of it. The logo was created by Djalu. The crosshatch design indicates the country of Wititj, the olive python and rainbow. The yidaki is in the centre with Rripangu (lightning and all that it represents) coming out of the top.

Djalu Gurruwiwi's yidaki are the equivalent of Stradivarius violins. This reputation of high quality has only slowly evolved as Djalu explains below. For over a decade Djalu Gurruwiwi and his family have been making yidaki for a growing number of Indigenous and non-Indigenous enthusiasts. Djalu's yidaki were used exclusively by the Yothu Yindi band and over many years he has made yidaki for people all over the world. The extraordinary resonance and healing powers of Djalu's yidaki have made them famous. Djalu has made trips around the world including Japan and Europe to conduct classes and to provide information about the yidaki. It is in some ways ironical that Djalu may be better known and revered internationally than in his own country.

Here is Djalu's own words about the way his business and reputation has evolved:

"Making yidaki is not new to me. I have been making yidaki for many years, even before it became popular among Balanda (Europeans). But this time, I am involving my family in bringing all this to the rest of the world through the internet. This is very exciting for me, and I hope it is equally exciting for you.

By bringing Rripangu Yidaki onto the internet, I hope to be able to fulfill several objectives based on the philosophy which drives the whole process - bridging cultures.

I would like to share my culture and my knowledge with everyone regardless of who they are and where they come from. This is my gesture of friendship and goodwill which I hope will lead to better understandings between Balanda and Yolngu (Aboriginal people from North East Arnhem Land). This is my part in the Reconciliation process. In return, I hope you will gain insights into my people's life and our struggles... I hope you will respect our law, our culture, and our way of life - autonomy and independence.

My family and I wish to live a life that we have control of... this is why we are running this business by ourselves, instead of relying on other people to do it for us.

We also want to be economically self-sufficient - to work for ourselves - instead of relying on governments and their agencies to 'help' us all the time. This is the time for Yolngu to win back our pride and work ethic - cultural maintenance.

In a world that is experiencing dramatic social change, Yolngu must be able to remember who they are and to maintain their culture. By establishing Rripangu Yidaki, our children will be able to be involved in the enterprise by learning from the old people... when we are gone, our children will carry on our memories and keep our culture alive.

Please be patient with us. Our operation is only recently established and it will take time for us to be able to operate smoothly and systematically. Furthermore, please be aware that we will never run our enterprise like a conventional business... our output or production of yidaki and other items for sale will inadvertently fluctuate... sometimes there will be greater demand than supply I am sure. Also, we might not be as quick to respond to email orders or general inquiries as other businesses.

Be assured of one thing... each yidaki I produce will be crafted with the care, patience and love that is the age-old custom taught to me by my father".

The internationally acclaimed Buku Larrngay Mulka Art Gallerywere forerunners in this through the brilliant work of Randin Graves who has produced a remarkable insight into the yidaki, techniques of playing as well as the wider Yolngu knowledge base around the yidaki. Randin's pioneering work is being appreciated by a growing number of scholars around the world start to understand the deep and complex knowledge associated with traditional music and instruments. At the forefront of this new scholarly developments is writing by Dr Aaron Corn and others associated with the preservation of traditional music.

Djalu also carries on this quest through Rripangu Yidaki and his own website as well as his sister Dhanggal's website. "Who taught me? My two fathers, I watched them cutting yidaki in the bush like this...My father knows. When he goes hunting he brings yidaki with him; when he is hunting for turtle he plays the yidaki...I make yidaki because my father, Monyu, knew about yidaki...he taught me like this, here's a yidaki, here and here, you cut this one.." Now the Gurruwiwi family make only a limited number of yidaki each year. These are documented and sold through Djalu's website or are included in Djalu's master classes.

The masterclass is also a way of demonstrating the high value of Djalu's knowledge and craft. Djalu ran a class at the annual GARMA Festival for some years. Now he has set up his own master class. This year it is being held at the traditional Galpu homeland Gi'kal - an extraordinarily beautiful spot on the Arafura Sea with a view to the English Company Islands. Gi'kal is also highly significant for Galpu culture and it is here that the vision of a Yidaki Traditional Knowledge University is to unfold over a longer term period.

Book a place

More information: Dhanggal Gurruwiwi's website

The Australian of the Year 2009 Mick Dodson has talked about the way in which in the United States Indigenous communities are funded by Federal government but are autonomously managed and run by the Indigenous communities themselves. Why not then a traditional knowledge university that is run by the Galpu clan? Should not Indigenous people who enroll in such an institution be able to receive the same level of funding as a student attending a university or music conservatorium in Sydney or Melbourne?

The high level of knowledge that is held by leaders like Djalu Guruwiwi cannot be questioned. Whereas the knowledge that is held and taught by Professors at Universities in Sydney or Melbourne or even New York or Boston may have a base of 600 years. The knowledges and song cycles learned and understood by Djalu represent the oldest unbroken culture of any civilisation in the world. This knowledge is precious and sacred and needs to be supported through a well endowed traditional knowledge university structure. Increasingly the international and Australian community is recognising this and there have been several Indigenous cultural institutions established in the South Pacific, Canada and the United States.

Another important reason for a a Yidaki Traditional Knowledge University is to preserve and develop the song cycles of the Galpu clan. In effect a traditional knowledge university operates across North East Arnhem Land all year around, season after season and it has been doing so for a time period stretching back beyond modern civilisation. It is about time a rich, modern country like Australia started to recognise this treasure in its midst. In traditional culture ancient knowledges have been retained in the minds of the leaders and elders and transferred on at appropriate times to new leaders. Modern culture in many ways places these traditional ways at risk. The Galpu and Yolngu peoples have used new technology to help young people to learn the music, dance and songs of their culture. This needs to continue in even more sophisticated ways that are controlled by Yolngu people.

It is vital that enterprises and larger projects remain controlled by the Yolngu people themselves. Too often well intentioned outsiders take over Aboriginal enterprises and do not allow them to develop in the way that their communities and clan leaders desire. The result is that the enterprises then fail. This is why the Ripangu Yidaki enterprise will develop with the Galpu clan at the centre of its development.

A Call for Investment and Support If you are a government or private sector investor and these ideas and principles hit a chord with you then we would like to hear from you. If you are not an investor then you can still help us by enrolling in our classes, supporting our enterprise and recognising the high value of our products by purchasing them.

Lead Organisation/Agency

Type of Support Needed

Students are encouraged to enroll in the annual Yidaki Master Class and to support the Rripangu Yidaki enterprise in this way.
Investors are encouraged to contact Stuart Maclean Executive Development Officer - East Arnhem Department of Regional Development.

Type of Mentoring Needed

Amount of Investment Needed

Type of Investment Needed

Subject(s)

Region(s)

Most Recently Presented At

First Presented At

For further information

Contact	:	Dhanggal Gurruwiwi/Adrienne Willing
Phone	:	08-8987-0429
Mobile	:	0429-625-280
WWW	:	http://www.djalu.com/

Rirpangu Yidaki Logo

Djalu Gurruwiwi

Gi'kal - Sacred Galpu Homeland, Site for Yidaki Traditional Knowledge University