Djalu gurruwiwi biography of michael jackson
Djalu Gurruwiwi, written Djalu (c. – 12 May ), was a Yolngu musician, artist, and leader from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. He was globally recognised for his acquired skill as a player, maker, and spiritual keeper of the yiḏaki (also known as didgeridoo).
Djalu gurruwiwi biography of michael jackson for kids And some proof that I took breaks from taking pictures to do my part in the work, as well. If nothing else, know that these are our own ed images. Djalu' stressed to us repeatedly that he wants people to visit him, to learn about him as a real person. To commemorate his legacy, we are publishing a feature exploring his singular creative vision and collaborative style online for the first time.As a respected artist with many of his works in several galleries, he aimed to spread his culture and traditions past his own community.
Life
Gurruwiwi was born at the mission station on Wirriku Island (also known as Jirgarri), one of the smaller islands in the Wessel Islands group. He has also self-reported being born on Milingimbi Island (also known as Yurruwi, in the Crocodile Islands), with both of these island groups being off Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia.
His date of birth is uncertain (the missionaries recorded his and two brothers as having the same birthdate – officially 1 January ), estimated c or probably earlier.
He was given the European name "Willie" at some point, "Wulumbuyku" was another Aboriginal name, and his skin name was Wamut. His father was Monyu Gurruwiwi and his mother Djikulu Yunupingu.
He was a leader of the Dhuwa moiety Gälpu clan, of the Dangu language group of the Yolngu peoples.
Djalu lived in Birritjimi on the Gove Peninsula, about 1,km (mi) east of Darwin. He grew up practicing Christianity and living a traditional life in the remote area, hunting turtles with his father on a lipalipa (dug-out canoe), and with little contact with "balanda" (white people). The family, along with others in the clan, spent long periods on the remote island of Rrakala.
They travelled across the chain of Wessel Islands from Nhulunbuy in dug-out canoes, using carved wooden a young man Gurruwiwi lived on Galiwinku (Elcho Island), working as a lumberjack, cutting large trees by hand.
Biography of farrah fawcett: His work has been included in numerous exhibitions since Retrieved 26 August Braver New World — In , the photographer fled the Bobcat Fire in San Bernardino to his East Hollywood home, sparking the inspiration for an unsettling photo series. In Between Songs [ edit ].
He was also given the responsibility for carrying out punishment for tribal law, becoming both respected and feared.
After a period when he suc*bed to the destructive effects of alcohol after it was introduced to the remote areas, he says he was visited by a spirit in gaol one night and "found Jesus".
He gave up drinking and devoted his life to the yiḏaki and spiritual and other studies. In he completed studies in Christian theology at Nungalinya College in Darwin, and became a respected Yolŋu lawman as well as a Christian leader.
As of , Gurruwiwi and his family, along with some other members of the Galpu clan, lived at Birritjimi (also known as Wallaby Beach) on the Gove Peninsula They live in homes constructed in the s to provide accommodation for Rio Tinto mining executives, handed over to traditional owners represented by Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation in The houses are in very poor condition and are facing demolition, as they are no longer deemed safe.
The Northern Territory Government is providing emergency repairs, but says that the Northern Land Council is responsible for the maintenance of the homes. Rirratjingu has applied for funds to help move the residents to Nhulunbuy, Gunyangara and Yirrkala, but Djalu and his son Larry were reluctant to leave Birritjimi.
Gurruwiwi died in Arnhem Land after a long illness on 12 May , believed to be aged in his late 80s.
Family
Gurruwiwi's wife is a sister of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, and they have several sons and at least one daughter, Zelda.
His son Larry Larrtjaŋga Gurruwiwi is the future spiritual keeper of the yiḏaki and custodian of the Yolngu songlines and healing techniques p*ed down by his father.
He featured as a didgeridu player in the feature film Jindalee Lady (), directed by Aboriginal director Brian Syron (credited as Larry Yapuma Gurruwiwi).
Larry and Andrew Gäyalaŋa Gurruwiwi led the Bärra West Wind band, with Jason Guwanbal Gurruwiwi, Vernon Marritŋu Gurruwiwi, Dion Marimunuk Gurruwiwi, and Adrian Guyundu Gurruwiwi also listed as members of the band in The band and Larry are featured in the film Westwind: Djalu's Legacy.
Larry, Jason and Vernon, in their new band, Malawurr, performed in Melbourne in June to help raise funds for the new film, Morning Star (see below) ahead of their first European tour, playing at WOMAD in the UK and other festivals in England and France.
The band was scheduled to give a yiḏaki workshop and performance at the Rainbow Serpent Festival at Lexton, Victoria on 26 January
Music, culture, and law
Gurruwiwi spent much time over several decades crafting his instruments and refining his technique. He sold his pieces to the local community arts centre, and various non-Indigenous workers and visitors.
He had the ability to find adequate material for the yidaki by just walking through the woods and allowing his connection to nature to choose the correct log for making the instrument.
Gurruwiwi was a senior member of his clan, having learned to play and make the yiḏaki from his father, Monyu, an important leader and warrior.
Monyu gave Djalu the role of primary custodian of the yiḏaki for his clan, which is significant also for the wider Yolŋu communities, because other Arnhem Land clans see the Gälpu clan as one of the primary custodians of the instrument. However, there are many other Yolŋu people with the same role within their own clan, and their own particular type of yiḏaki.
Upon the death of his father, Djalu *umed the role of the elder responsible for p*ing on the skills as well as the cultural importance of the instrument.
He became known among his people as the senior player and maker of the yiḏaki after attending many ceremonies with his brothers, who were singers, and also became fully informed in Yolŋu law.
Djalu gurruwiwi biography of michael jackson life Film It was directed by British filmmaker Ben Strunin, and Djalu's son Larry Gurruwiwi, and multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Gotye are in the cast. Incidentally, if you'd like to visit Djalu' with us in the future, drop us a line. They had naturally felt a sense of celebration over a sense of fear.Much of the knowledge and cultural practice that he acquired is held sacred, so Gurruwiwi is held in high esteem.
In , his reputation as craftsman was given a world stage when several of his friends and relatives formed the musical group Yothu Yindi, and commissioned Gurruwiwi to make their yiḏakis. Yothu Yindi has both Yolŋu and balanda members and spanned cultural boundaries, going on to win several ARIA awards and international fame.
Gurruwiwi's source of spiritual power has been linked to Wi*j, the huge ancestral rainbow serpent.
In the clan legends, the Wi*j was said to create thunder and lightning as it moved across the land, but is also *ociated with the calm freshwater systems where the spirits reside, among water lilies and palm trees. The yiḏaki sometimes also contain these qualities: some have powerful acoustics, called baywarayiḏaki, (the power of lightning and thunder); others are Djuŋgarriny, long and deep-sounding, with a gentle, soothing sound, but also powerful: the vibrations are said to stir Wi*j.
Tours and performances
Gurruwiwi delivered the first Yiḏaki mastercl* at the inaugural Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures (held at Gulkula, a significant Gumatj ceremonial site about 40 kilometres (mi) from the township of Nhulunbuy) in , and has delivered all subsequent Yiḏaki Mastercl*es at the Festival since.
He has attended numerous other festivals and events both in Australia and abroad, including:
- Rripangu Yiḏaki Festival, Eisenbach, Germany
- Joshua Tree Festival, USA
- Indigenous Peoples Commission cultural visit, Taipei, Taiwan
- Dubai Sister Cities Forum, United Arab Emirates
- Yiḏaki Festa , Okuhida & Tokyo, *an
- Played for Nelson Mandela in Sydney
- Mulu Music Festival, Mooloolaba, Australia
At the edition of Womadelaide, he participated in an "Artists in Conversation" session as well as a performance that included Gotye and the Bärra (West Wind) musicians in Adelaide, South Australia.
Partial discography
Gurruwiwi's music released on CD includes:
- Waluka: Gurritjiri Gurriwiwi, featuring Djalu Gurruwiwi.Djalu gurruwiwi biography of michael jackson His manager Jeremy told me the only way to broach the idea of making a film was if I talked face to face with Djalu and shook his hand; he would know if it was right and this was his way. Australian Traveller. I could use the money. Djalu Gurruwiwi , written Djalu c.
Traditional music from north-east Arnhem Land, Volume Yothu Yindi Foundation – Contemporary Masters Series,
- Djalu teaches and plays yidaki (didjeridu). Traditional music from north-east Arnhem Land, Volume Yothu Yindi Foundation – Contemporary Masters Series,
- Djalu Plays and Teaches Yidaki, Volume:2 (Songs and Stories from the Galpu Clan).
Traditional music from north-east Arnhem Land, Volume Yothu Yindi Foundation – Contemporary Masters Series,
- Diltjimurru: Djalu Gurruwiwi. ON-Records & Djalu Gurruwiwi,
Art
Guruwiwi's art includes printmaking and earth pigments on stringybark (also known as bark paintings). He was also a painter of sacred miny'tji and a maker of sacred raŋga, objects rarely seen by outsiders.
Gurruwiwi is a respected artist, with his bark paintings on eucalyptus bark being acquired by numerous important ins*utions, including the National Gallery of Victoria, the Art Gallery of South Australia, the South Australian Museum, the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia and many private collections.
His work has been included in numerous exhibitions since
Some of his themes, styles and types of work include:
- Mandji-dak body painting
- Clan miny’tji (designs of sal*er and freshwater areas)
- Wi*j (olive python)
- Material:earth pigments on Stringybark
- Dimensions: × cm
- Location: Naypinya, Northern Territory
- Dhonyin (Javan file snake)
- Bol’ngu ("the Thunderman")
- Material:earth pigments on Stringybark
- Dimensions: × cm
- Location: Naypinya, Northern Territory
Films and videos
Westwind: Djalu's Legacy
In , Westwind: Djalu's Legacy was released.
It was directed by British filmmaker Ben Strunin, and Djalu's son Larry Gurruwiwi, and multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Gotye are in the cast. Initially *led Baywara (Yolngu for "lightning power", which features as a theme), the story tells of Gurruwiwi's need to p* on the sacred knowledge of the yidaki and its songlines, and Larry's initial reluctance to take on the role.
The film's *le echoes that of Larry's band, Bärra West Wind (Bärra being the Galpu name of the West Wind songline).
The film played to packed houses at the Melbourne International Film Festival.
In Between Songs
Joshua Bell, emmy award nominee, anthropologist interested in aboriginal artworks and music, directed a do*entary about Gurruwiwi called “In Between Songs.” He helps share and expose problems that Australian aboriginal artists face in order to maintain their lifestyle in the midst of the contemporary world.
Biography of nat king cole Gurruwiwi was born at the mission station on Wirriku Island also known as Jirgarri , one of the smaller islands in the Wessel Islands group. Culture This is not an anthropological analysis of a dead culture; we can all engage with and learn from it today. Further reading [ edit ].During a personal interview with Gurruwiwi, he shares that he remembers *anese bombings on his homeland during World War II. Because neither him nor his family have ever been exposed to a plane, let alone an explosion, they cheered. They had naturally felt a sense of celebration over a sense of fear. This is yet another depiction of the Yolngu’s lack of exposure to modern war, and the modern world as a whole.
Morning Star
The maker of Westwind: Djalu's Legacy, Ben Strunin, was invited by Djalu and Larry Gurruwiwi to make a sequel to Westwind, which is as of January in the process of crowdfunding the film.
It follows the brothers' band, Malawurr, on tour through England, the Czech Republic, Wales, and France in The film will also include Larry's participation in groundbreaking medical research, "to quantify the effects of the traditional vibrational sound healing that he was taught by Djalu".
Other films and videos
Gurruwiwi has also featured in other films:
- Yidaki.
Directed by Michael Butler, narrated by Jack Thompson, produced by Michelle White for Discovery Channel
- In Between Songs. Written, directed, produced, and co-edited by Joshua Bell and narrated by James Cromwell. In , Bell spent six months in Nhulunbuy with Gurruwiwi, his wife, his sister, and various family members who came and went; they also traveled to the remote island of Rrakala, where Gurruwiwi and his family lived for long stretches when he was a child.
He also features in numerous YouTube videos, which attract tens of thousands of views.
Recognition, influence, and legacy
Awards
Guruwiwi won the National Indigenous Music Award in the Traditional Song of the Year category, with East Journey, for "Mokuy & Bonba".
Yidaki: Didjeridu and the Sound of Australia
Gurruwiwi was the main consultant for Yidaki: Didjeridu and the Sound of Australia, ex exhibition curated by the South Australian Museum in This exhibition was dedicated to learning about the power of this instrument, and what it meant to the Yolngu people.
Not only did it aim to educate what the instrument could do, but also to demonstrate how it could communicate to the rest of the world outside of Australia, which was always Gurruwiwi's aim, as he consistently tried to use his instrument and music to bridge the gap between different cultures.
Teaching
Gurruwiwi spread international master cl*es to outside continents such as Europe, Asia, and North America.
He used to hold annual yidaki workshops at the Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures for advanced students, and produced two instructional albums on how to play the instrument.
See also
- Australia portal
- Music portal
- List of didgeridoo players
References
Further reading
- Botsman, Peter.
"D.W. Gurruwiwi: Yidaki Power, " (PDF).
External links
- Djalu Gurruwiwi discography at Discogs
- Djalu Gurruwiwi at IMDb