Western Arnhem Land 

Western Arnhem Land as shown on the map is that area of the Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust (previously known as the Arnhem Land Reserve) extending west of the Liverpool River and Mann Rivers as far as Kakadu National Park. Lying at its' southern border is the Beswick Aboriginal Land Trust.

Run your cursor over the map - wherever the cursor appears as;

- clicking this symbol will allow you to hear a sample of the style of music from that region

- clicking this symbol will allow you to hear a solo didjeridu sample from that region
 
 

At 20 000 km², Kakadu National Park is bigger than Switzerland - a wilderness Park and the traditional home of the Gagudju, Kundjey'mi (Gundjehmi), Jawoyn (for whom Nitmiluk - Katherine Gorge NP is also a traditional home), Konbudj, Ngombur, Mbukarla and Wuningangk people. Analysis of various sediments within the Park demonstrates Aboriginal people have inhabited the area for at least 55 000 yrs. Up until the 1970's when the park was being developed, the rockshelters at both Nauwalabila and Malangangerr had been inhabited continuously for the last 20-23 000 years - the oldest known continuous occupation sites in Australia. People lived here right through the last glaciation!!. At Malakulanja, in archaeological deposits in excess of 18 000 yrs old (and as old as 50 000 yrs), ochre "crayons" were found. Within the Park there are around 5 000 rock art sites, 1500 plant species, one third of Australia's known bird species, a quarter of our fish species, nearly 100 species of reptiles and some 25 species of frog. The Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service holds a 100 yr lease with the traditional owners.

Discography & Notes

Title of  Recording Track/Band Recording Location/Date Notes Songs from the Northern Territory Vol. 1. Moyle. track 1 Kunbarllanjnja (Gunbalanya), 1962 Jawoyn (Djawan) speakers   track 2 Kunbarllanjnja, 1962     track 3 Kunbarllanjnja, 1962 Didjeridu only   track 4 Kunbarllanjnja, 1962 Kunwinjku (Gunwinggu) singers of a Maung song from South Goulburn Island   track 6a Kunbarllanjnja, 1962 A 'gunbalang' style song sung by a Gunbalang speaker   track 6b Kunbarllanjnja, 1962 'Gunbalang' accompaniment played by a Maung didjeridu player   track 7 Kunbarllanjnja, 1962 A Dangbon singer performs a 'Wongga' style song learnt from a Wagatj man. Didjeridu is played by a Kunwinjku (Gunwinggu) speaker (same as track 1)*   track 9 Darwin, 1962 A 'Gurula' style example from Cape Don, Coburg Peninsula   track 10 Darwin, 1962 From Belyuen - a Larrakia (Wagatj) singer*   track 11 Darwin, 1962 From Anson Bay - Wadyiginy-Larrakia (Brinken-Wagatj) singer - Wangga style accompaniment* Arnhem Land , Elkin (1993) track 1** 1952 Wangga - wagatj of Anson Bay*   track 2** 1952/52 Kunborrk - northern Wagatj/Larrakia*   track 4** 1949 or 52 Kunborrk   track 5** 1949 Kunborrk - Rembarrnga singer   track 6** 1949 Mispelt on both recordings as "Bunborg". Rembarrnga songman as in track 5. Songs of Bamyili All Barunga (Bamyili)1970's David Blanasi (Blanatji) is one of the didjeridu players [Y] Songs of D.... L....... Bamyili Corroborree All Barunga/Wugularr, 1976 David Blanasi is one of the didjeridu players Didjeridu Master David Blanasi All Maningrida,1998 Maiali (Mayali) didjeridu player from Wugularr Moyle; Aboriginal Sound Instruments Side 2, Band 1d Belyuen (Delissaville),1968 Wangga style (Wagatj-Manda speaker)*   Side 2, Band 3a Derby, WA,1968 A Wangga style song sung by a Wadyaginy singer - didjeridu player is Worora speaker (Kimberley region)*   Side 2, Band 3c Kunbarllanjnja (Oenpelli), 1963 Kunwinjku (Gunwinggu) singer & didjeridu player Tribal Music of Australia, Elkin Side 1, Band 8   Kunborrk song Land of the Morning Star. Le Brun Holmes Side 2, Band 1 1962 Goulburn Island song   Side 2, Band 2 1962 Maung song from Gouldburn Island   Side 2, Bands 3,4,5 1962   Arnhem Land Popular Classics, West track 1 Wugularr, 1961/62  Kunborrk ("Bungalin-bungalin" style of southeastern WAL). Dalabon/Kune composer/singer. Kune/Maiali didjeriduist   track 4 Wugularr, 1961/62 Wangga (Bungridj-bungridj" style of south central AL). Djauan/Dalabon songman - Alan Maralung. Djauan/Maiali didjeriduist*

Please Note: The names of performers are not included wherever it is known or suspected they may be recently deceased.

** The tracks thus marked are comon to both the re-release of Elkin's recordings (1993) and Elkin's Vol. 1. (1957?)
* Denotes tracks that are of Wangga style but actually outside of western Arnhem Land - retained here for the reader's own comparison and interest.

[D] & [Y] denote Dhuwa and Yirritja moieties respectively

• White Cockatoo Performing Group