YouTube Videos from ididj
I recently got an email from my friend Guan at IDIDJ Australia, sharing some videos of a recent trip he made to Arnhemland with Yolngu.
The videos are available at www.youtube.com/ididjaustralia
There is a particularly memorable video of Djalu’s son Larry playing ‘Baywara’, a yidaki cut by Djalu that has a rather interesting legend associated with it.
Guan’s comments on this particular yidaki:
“Legend has it that when Djalu cut this yirdaki, he was struck by lightning in the knee and required hospitalisation. When the instrument was completed, the old women would cry whenever they heard this instrument being played, as it reminded them of a yirdaki that was used a long time ago at Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island) – presumably at the funeral of an important person.
This is not an ordinary didgeridoo. It is a manifestation of Ancestral power, a representation of sacred Galpu mysteries. It is Baywara!”
