Djalu Gurruwiwi: Master Didgeridoo-maker
- Tags
- Australia
- , biography
- , didgeridoo
- , Djalu Gurruwiwi
- , indigenous
- , instrument-maker
- , music
- , yirdaki
One of the changing points in my life was twelve years ago when I met my good friend and teacher Matthew Ceeda ‘Takdeem Proceedor’ Andersen. He proceeded to teach me how to play the didgeridoo, or as the Australian indigenous creators of this mystical and spiritual instrument refer to it: the yirdaki. My good friend Ceeda passed away suddenly about two and a half years ago at the tender age of 34 years (the age I am now), but I still play the didgeridoo, and I dedicate the songs to him whenever I play.
If you know anything about didgeridoos in Australia (you probably don’t!), you would have heard the name, Djalu Gurruwiwi. Djalu is known amongst yirdaki makers and players as the true master of the trade. He was also a very renowned player in his younger years, but in old age has lost much of his ability due to a debilitating condition to his vocal chords. Djalu has said the misfortune was the result of his refusal to pay a clansman who then placed a ceremonial malediction upon him.
Here are a couple of interesting articles about this little-known legend living under the noses of an otherwise unaware Australian populace:
‘I got more power, not enough for everybody – the life of Djalu’ Gurruwiwi and yirdaki.’
‘Djalu Gurruwiwi – Abridged Biography’
This is Djalu making a didgeridoo from scratch:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb6fxCrSohw&feature=fvw]
Djau’s son playing one of his father’s creations:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKPC5PChUDY&feature=channel]
After one minute in this video, you can see and hear the man himself blowing life through the hollow tree:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NMD6-ygDk8&feature=channel]