Songs From a Hollow Log

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Wandjuk Marika in Port Moresby  Didjeridu Solo Side 1 only

Recorded at the National Broadcasting Commission 25th Febuary, 1976. First published by Larrikin Records 1977, Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies. Any rights and copyrights traditional or otherwise associated with this recording must be respected. This was originally pressed as a 45 rpm extended play disc. I am only providing side 1 so others may have an example of the music and culture. If you wish to acquire the complete album  I suggest you try to purchase from one of the reputable sellers of this sort of recording.
This music is offered with all due respect to the original archivists, and also of course the Aboriginal peoples who wished to share their cultural songs with us in these recordings.

WARNING persons no longer living may be presented in pictures or recordings on this page.

     Wandjuk Marika learnt to play the didjeridu as a small boy from his father, Mawalan, who was a great and respected ceremonial leader, and who passed on to Wandjuk his knowledge of the sacred lore, the ceremonies, and the sacred designs, just as Wandjuk is training his own sons today.

     He says: "We realise the old way will never return, but we believe that much of our music, songs, dance and art can and must be preserved as a vital part of the culture of mankind."

(a) Dangultji-the Brolga. A secular camp dance in which the performers, particularly children, imitate the behaviour of the brolga.

(b) Malwiyi-the Emu A camp dance about the emu, Australia's largest bird. It is flightless and may grow to 1.8 m in height. The Aborigines hunt them for food and relish their large green eggs.

(c) The Wawlilak Story-The Wawilak myth gives rise to a most important cycle of ceremonies in North East Arnhem Land. In the Dreamtime the two Wawilak sisters, one of them pregnant, travelled over the land and finally came to rest by a lagoon where they built a shade for the birth. One of the sisters was gathering paperbark when she accidentally polluted the pool wherein dwelt the Lightning Serpent, a huge snake which could reach from the heavens to the earth. In a fury he sent a black cloud overhead, and torrential rain. The sisters cried out and danced to appease him but it was to no avail, and he swallowed them. The Wawilak sisters are the Creation Sisters-they gave rise to the present Aboriginal population.

           (I) The first solo accompanies the Wawilak song which tells of the girls travels before they reach the pool.

           (II) The second solo accompanies the Wawilak song which tells of the torrentia rain sent by the Lightning Serpent.

Note: The information on the music is taken from Wandjuk Marika's own explanations. The spelling is his own preference.