Australian didgeridoo player (c. 1935–2022)
Djalu Gurruwiwi, written Djalu (c. 1935 – 12 May 2022), was far-out Yolngu musician, artist, and superior from Arnhem Land in righteousness Northern Territory of Australia. Of course was globally recognised for coronate acquired skill as a competitor, maker, and spiritual keeper catch the fancy of the yiḏaki (also known pass for didgeridoo).
As a respected manager with many of his oeuvre in several galleries, he adored to spread his culture contemporary traditions past his own district.
Gurruwiwi was born at justness mission station on Wirriku Isle (also known as Jirgarri), facial appearance of the smaller islands distort the Wessel Islands group.[1] Settle down has also self-reported being innate on Milingimbi Island (also lay as Yurruwi, in the Pencil-mark Islands),[2][3] with both of these island groups being off Metropolis Land in the Northern Area, Australia.
His date of descent is uncertain (the missionaries reliable his and two brothers by the same token having the same birthdate – officially 1 January 1930), alleged c.1940[1] or probably earlier.[4]
He was given the European name "Willie" at some point, "Wulumbuyku" was another Aboriginal name, and climax skin name was Wamut.
Tiara father was Monyu Gurruwiwi obscure his mother Djikulu Yunupingu.[5]
He was a leader of the Dhuwa moiety Gälpu clan, of goodness Dangu language group of high-mindedness Yolngu peoples. Djalu lived descent Birritjimi on the Gove Power point, about 1,000 km (620 mi) east bring into the light Darwin. He grew up practicing Christianity and living a stock life in the remote period, hunting turtles with his papa on a lipalipa (dug-out canoe), and with little contact look after "balanda" (white people).[1] The lineage, along with others in probity clan, spent long periods come to an end the remote island of Rrakala.
They travelled across the spate of Wessel Islands from Nhulunbuy in dug-out canoes, using inscribed wooden paddles.[6]As a young mortal Gurruwiwi lived on Galiwinku (Elcho Island), working as a labourer, cutting large trees by shield. He was also given excellence responsibility for carrying out scourge for tribal law,[1] becoming both respected and feared.[6]
After a interval when he succumbed to greatness destructive effects of alcohol aft it was introduced to character remote areas, he says pacify was visited by a appearance in gaol one night ride "found Jesus".
He gave slang drinking and devoted his poised to the yiḏaki and unworldly and other studies.[6] In 1994 he completed studies in Christianly theology at Nungalinya College detour Darwin, and became a legendary Yolŋu lawman as well little a Christian leader.[1]
As of 2020, Gurruwiwi and his family, at the head with some other members infer the Galpu clan, lived insensible Birritjimi (also known as Kangaroo Beach) on the Gove Headland They live in homes constructed in the 1970s to farm animals accommodation for Rio Tinto origin executives, handed over to habitual owners represented by Rirratjingu Original Corporation in 2008.
The abodes are in very poor reluctance and are facing demolition, restructuring they are no longer believed safe. The Northern Territory Direction is providing emergency repairs, nevertheless says that the Northern Territory Council is responsible for glory maintenance of the homes. Rirratjingu has applied for funds do as you are told help move the residents assign Nhulunbuy, Gunyangara and Yirrkala, on the other hand Djalu and his son Larry were reluctant to leave Birritjimi.[7]
Gurruwiwi died in Arnhem Land puzzle out a long illness on 12 May 2022, believed to exist aged in his late 80s.[4]
Gurruwiwi's wife is a sister be a devotee of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, and they have several sons[8] and bequeath least one daughter, Zelda.[4]
His individual Larry Larrtjaŋga Gurruwiwi is influence future spiritual keeper of magnanimity yiḏaki[9] and custodian of righteousness Yolngu songlines and healing techniques passed down by his father.[10][11] He featured as a didgeridu player in the feature lp Jindalee Lady (1992), directed in and out of Aboriginal director Brian Syron (credited as Larry Yapuma Gurruwiwi).[12][13]
Larry captain Andrew Gäyalaŋa Gurruwiwi led excellence Bärra West Wind band, run into Jason Guwanbal Gurruwiwi, Vernon Marritŋu Gurruwiwi, Dion Marimunuk Gurruwiwi, tolerate Adrian Guyundu Gurruwiwi also scheduled as members of the faction in 2010.[Note 1][14][15] The zipper and Larry are featured weigh down the 2017 film Westwind: Djalu's Legacy.[8]
Larry, Jason and Vernon, smother their new band, Malawurr, accomplish in Melbourne in June 2019 to help raise funds pay money for the new film, Morning Star (see below) ahead of their first European tour, playing pleasing WOMAD in the UK promote other festivals in England swallow France.[16] The band was destined to give a yiḏaki shop and performance at the Rainbow Serpent Festival at Lexton, Falls on 26 January 2020.[17]
Gurruwiwi spent much crux over several decades crafting potentate instruments and refining his style.
He sold his pieces do good to the local community arts hub, and various non-Indigenous workers illustrious visitors.[5] He had the prerogative to find adequate material appropriate the yidaki by just unimaginative through the woods and despite the fact that his connection to nature bump into choose the correct log characterise making the instrument.[18]
Gurruwiwi was spiffy tidy up senior member of his brotherhood, having learned to play folk tale make the yiḏaki from reward father, Monyu, an important ruler and warrior.
Monyu gave Djalu the role of primary guardian of the yiḏaki for diadem clan, which is significant besides for the wider Yolŋu communities, because other Arnhem Land clans see the Gälpu clan renovation one of the primary custodians of the instrument. However, less are many other Yolŋu the public with the same role preferential their own clan, and their own particular type of yiḏaki.[1]
Upon the death of his cleric, Djalu assumed the role remind you of the elder responsible for fleeting on the skills as select as the cultural importance atlas the instrument.
He became publicize among his people as depiction senior player and maker near the yiḏaki after attending indefinite ceremonies with his brothers, who were singers, and also became fully informed in Yolŋu efficiency. Much of the knowledge contemporary cultural practice that he derivative is held sacred, so Gurruwiwi is held in high esteem.[1]
In 1986, his reputation as crafter was given a world echelon when several of his players and relatives formed the sweet-sounding group Yothu Yindi, and authorized Gurruwiwi to make their yiḏakis.
Yothu Yindi has both Yolŋu and balanda members and spanned cultural boundaries, going on spread win several ARIA awards put forward international fame.[5]
Gurruwiwi's source of nonmaterialistic power has been linked sort out Wititj, the huge ancestral rainbow serpent. In the clan legends, the Wititj was said separate create thunder and lightning by the same token it moved across the flat, but is also associated board the calm freshwater systems the spirits reside, among distilled water lilies and palm trees.
Rectitude yiḏaki sometimes also contain these qualities: some have powerful acoustics, called baywarayiḏaki, (the power lecture lightning and thunder); others selling Djuŋgarriny, long and deep-sounding, get together a gentle, soothing sound, nevertheless also powerful: the vibrations move to and fro said to stir Wititj.[1]
Gurruwiwi delivered the first Yiḏaki masterclass at the inaugural Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures (held at Gulkula, a significant Gumatj ceremonial site about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the township bring in Nhulunbuy) in 1999, and has delivered all subsequent Yiḏaki Masterclasses at the Festival since.[5][19]
He has attended numerous other festivals beginning events both in Australia duct abroad, including:[1][5]
At the 2015 edition of Womadelaide, he participated in an "Artists in Conversation" session as well as a- performance that included Gotye prosperous the Bärra (West Wind) musicians in Adelaide, South Australia.[20]
Gurruwiwi's music released on CD includes:[5]
Traditional music from north-east City Land, Volume 2. Yothu Yindi Base – Contemporary Masters Series, 2001
Traditional music cause the collapse of north-east Arnhem Land, Volume 6. Yothu Yindi Foundation – Contemporary Poet Series, 2003
Guruwiwi's crumble includes printmaking and earth pigments on stringybark (also known hoot bark paintings).
He was as well a painter of sacred miny'tji and a maker of hallowed raŋga, objects rarely seen stomachturning outsiders.[1]
Gurruwiwi is a respected maestro, with his bark paintings animated eucalyptus bark being acquired uncongenial numerous important institutions, including significance National Gallery of Victoria,[21] honesty Art Gallery of South Continent, the South Australian Museum, rank Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection be alarmed about the University of Virginia ground many private collections.
His prepare has been included in plentiful exhibitions since 1990.[1][5]
Some of rulership themes, styles and types sponsor work include:[5]
In 2017, Westwind: Djalu's Legacy was released.
Turn out well was directed by British producer Ben Strunin, and Djalu's self Larry Gurruwiwi, and multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Gotye are in the cast.[8] Initially titled Baywara (Yolngu acquire "lightning power", which features style a theme),[20] the story tells of Gurruwiwi's need to relay on the sacred knowledge competition the yidaki and its songlines, and Larry's initial reluctance prospect take on the role.
Nobleness film's title echoes that clone Larry's band, Bärra West Atmosphere (Bärra being the Galpu reputation of the West Wind songline).[14]
The film played to packed housing at the 2018 Melbourne Global Film Festival.[23]
Joshua Danger signal, emmy award nominee, anthropologist caring in aboriginal artworks and melody, directed a documentary about Gurruwiwi called “In Between Songs.” Subside helps share and expose on that Australian aboriginal artists prejudice in order to maintain their lifestyle in the midst homework the contemporary world.[24] During first-class personal interview with Gurruwiwi, good taste shares that he remembers Altaic bombings on his homeland sooner than World War II.
Because neither him nor his family possess ever been exposed to keen plane, let alone an bang, they cheered. They had certainly felt a sense of sanctification over a sense of consternation. This is yet another motion picture of the Yolngu’s lack out-and-out exposure to modern war, streak the modern world as boss whole.[18]
The maker of Westwind: Djalu's Legacy, Ben Strunin, was invited by Djalu and Larry Gurruwiwi to make a payoff to Westwind, which is pass for of January 2020[update] in probity process of crowdfunding the hide.
It follows the brothers' band together, Malawurr, on tour through England, the Czech Republic, Wales, brook France in 2019. The husk will also include Larry's interest in groundbreaking medical research, "to quantify the effects of distinction traditional vibrational sound healing mosey he was taught by Djalu".[10][11]
Gurruwiwi has further featured in other films:[5]
Directed by Michael Butler, narrated by Jack Thompson, produced soak Michelle White for Discovery Channel[25]
He also features in abundant YouTube videos, which attract incise of thousands of views.[27]
Guruwiwi won the 2015 National Indigenous Music Award send down the Traditional Song of goodness Year category, with East Crossing, for "Mokuy & Bonba".[1][28]
Gurruwiwi was the main consultant commandeer Yidaki: Didjeridu and the Increase of Australia, ex exhibition curated by the South Australian Museum in 2017.
This exhibition was dedicated to learning about class power of this instrument, flourishing what it meant to honesty Yolngu people. Not only upfront it aim to educate what the instrument could do, on the contrary also to demonstrate how socket could communicate to the restlessness of the world outside adequate Australia, which was always Gurruwiwi's aim, as he consistently time-tested to use his instrument predominant music to bridge the halt briefly between different cultures.[29]
Gurruwiwi spread ubiquitous master classes to outside continents such as Europe, Asia, stand for North America.
He used take in hand hold annual yidaki workshops executive the Garma Festival of Word-of-mouth accepted Cultures for advanced students, roost produced two instructional albums oversight how to play the instrument.[30]
Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Focal point. 2015. Archived from the original(PDF) on 19 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020 – on Hollow Logs Didgeridoos.
"The old man famous the sea (and Gotye): description story of 'Australia's only guru'". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 Jan 2020.
ABC News. Indweller Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 Haw 2022.
iDIDJ Australia. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
Didge Project. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
Screen Australia. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
Morning Star Documentary. Retrieved 21 Jan 2020.
"'Didgeridoo is circlet voice': how Djalu Gurruwiwi embodies the sound of a continent". the Guardian. Retrieved 20 Jan 2020.
Rainbow Serpent Festival. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
Didge Project. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
Retrieved 21 January 2020.
. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
"How filmmaker Ben Strunin captured Djalu Gurruwiwi's legacy". NITV. Special Disclosure Service. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
YouTube. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
"When the waters will be one: Hereditary performance traditions and nobility Yolηu re-invention of post -Barunga intercultural discourses". Journal of Continent Studies. 28 (84): 23–34. doi:10.1080/14443050509387988. ISSN 1444-3058.