Djalu Gurruwiwi

Gurruwiwi was born at the mission station on Wirriku Island (also known as Jirgarri), one of the smaller islands in the Wessel Islands group.[1] He has also self-reported being born on Milingimbi Island (also known as Yurruwi, in the Crocodile Islands),[2][3] 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 1930), estimated c.1940[1] or probably earlier.[4]

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.[5]

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 1,000 kilometers 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).[1] 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 paddles.[6]As a young man Gurruwiwi lived on Galiwinku (Elcho Island), working as a lumberjack, cutting large trees by hand. He was also given the responsibility for carrying out punishment for tribal law,[1] becoming both respected and feared.[6]

After a period when he succumbed 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.[6] In 1994 he completed studies in Christian theology at Nungalinya College in Darwin, and became a respected Yolŋu lawman as well as a Christian leader.[1]

As of 2020, 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 1970s to provide accommodation for Rio Tinto mining executives, handed over to traditional owners represented by Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation in 2008. 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.[7]

Gurruwiwi died in Arnhem Land after a long illness on 12 May 2022, believed to be aged in his late 80s.[4]

A short biography of his life was completed by his adopted wawa Peter Botsman and published after his funeral in late 2022. https://www.workingpapers.com.au/papers/dw-gurruwiwi-yidaki-power-1933-2022

Gurruwiwi's wife is a sister of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, and they have several sons[8] and at least one daughter, Zelda.[4]

His son Larry Larrtjaŋga Gurruwiwi is the future spiritual keeper of the yiḏaki[9] and custodian of the Yolngu songlines and healing techniques passed down by his father.[10][11] He featured as a didgeridu player in the feature film Jindalee Lady (1992), directed by Aboriginal director Brian Syron (credited as Larry Yapuma Gurruwiwi).[12][13]

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 2010.[Note 1][14][15] The band and Larry are featured in the 2017 film Westwind: Djalu’s Legacy.[8]

Larry, Jason and Vernon, in their new band, Malawurr, performed in Melbourne in June 2019 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.[16] The band was scheduled to give a yiḏaki workshop and performance at the Rainbow Serpent Festival at Lexton, Victoria on 26 January 2020.[17]

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.[5]

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.[1]

Upon the death of his father, Djalu assumed the role of the elder responsible for passing 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. Much of the knowledge and cultural practice that he acquired is held sacred, so Gurruwiwi is held in high esteem.[1]

In 1986, 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.[5]

Gurruwiwi's source of spiritual power has been linked to Wititj, the huge ancestral rainbow serpent. In the clan legends, the Wititj was said to create thunder and lightning as it moved across the land, but is also associated 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 Wititj.[1]

Didgeridoo Log Harvest

Djalu Gurruwiwi is one of the most renown [Northeast Australian] aboriginal yidaki players, or more commonly referred to as the master of the didgeridoo. The didgeridoo instrument is harvested from termite-hollowed trees in the forest which is filled with stringybark eucalyptus. An expert in this instrument like Gurruwiwi has the ability to find adequate material for this instrument by just walking through the woods and allowing for their connection to nature to choose the correct didgeridoo. His abundance of knowledge allows him to easily embody his Galpu songs and embrace his Dhuwa moiety.[18]

Yidaki: Didjeridu and the Sound of Australia Exhibition

Gurruwiwi was a key component of this contemporary Australian exhibition, curated by the South Australian Museum. 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. This was the most Gurruwiwi-influenced sector of that project as he consistently tried to use his instrument and music to bridge the gap between different cultures.[19] He also helped visitors understand 20 essential elements within the stringbark forest that work together to optimize the quality of the Yidaki instrument.

Teaching in the Early 2000s

Djalu Gurruwiwi has spread international master classes to outside continents such as Europe, Asia, and North America. He used to hold annual Yidaki workshops at the "Garma (public) Festival of Traditional Culture" for advanced students, alongside the production of 2 in structural albums on how to play the instrument. Djalu also released 2 recordings of Gälpu Manikay series, in which his dedicated and loyal international students used to practice their skill.[20]

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.[1]

Gurruwiwi is a respected artist, with his bark paintings on eucalyptus bark being acquired by numerous important institutions, including the National Gallery of Victoria,[21] 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 1990.[1][5]

Some of his themes, styles and types of work include:[5]

• Mandji-dak body painting
• Clan miny’tji (designs of saltwater and freshwater areas)
• Wititj (olive python)
  • Material:earth pigments on Stringybark
  • Dimensions: 304.0 × 72.1 cm
  • Location: Naypinya, Northern Territory[22]
• Dhonyin (Javan file snake)
• Bol’ngu ("the Thunderman")
  • Material:earth pigments on Stringybark
  • Dimensions: 190.7 × 81.4 cm
  • Location: Naypinya, Northern Territory[22]

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 of Nhulunbuy) in 1999, and has delivered all subsequent Yiḏaki Masterclasses at the Festival since.[5][23]

He has attended numerous other festivals and events both in Australia and abroad, including:[1][5]

• 2002 Rripangu Yiḏaki Festival, Eisenbach, Germany
• 2003 Joshua Tree Festival, USA
• 2003 Indigenous Peoples Commission cultural visit, Taipei, Taiwan
• 2004 Dubai Sister Cities Forum, United Arab Emirates
• 2005 Yiḏaki Festa 2005, Okuhida & Tokyo, Japan
• 2005 Played for Nelson Mandela in Sydney
• 2007 Mulu Music Festival, Mooloolaba, Australia

At the 2015 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.[24]

Guruwiwi won the 2015 National Indigenous Music Award in the Traditional Song of the Year category, with East Journey, for Mokuy & Bonba.[1][25]

Gurruwiwi's music released on CD includes:[5]

• Waluka: Gurritjiri Gurriwiwi, featuring Djalu Gurruwiwi. Traditional music from north-east Arnhem Land, Volume 2. Yothu Yindi Foundation – Contemporary Masters Series, 2001
• Djalu teaches and plays yidaki (didjeridu). Traditional music from north-east Arnhem Land, Volume 3. Yothu Yindi Foundation – Contemporary Masters Series, 2001
• Djalu Plays and Teaches Yidaki, Volume 2 (Songs and Stories from the Galpu Clan). Traditional music from north-east Arnhem Land, Volume 6. Yothu Yindi Foundation – Contemporary Masters Series, 2003
• Diltjimurru: Djalu Gurruwiwi. ON-Records & Djalu Gurruwiwi, 2003

• List of didgeridoo players

• Djalu Gurruwiwi discography at Discogs
• Djalu Gurruwiwi at IMDb