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Mako (Key F, Toot A#)

Key: F
Toot: A#

Didjeridus from this region are made in the West Arnhem style. Called Mago, they’re different and special and follow the tradition made famous by Beswick’s Mago Master, elder David Blanasi.

Ghunmarn didjeridus are sourced on country, and hand cut from Woolybutt trees. Artists travel considerable distances on foot to find the right woolybutt tree naturally hollowed out by termites. Good instruments are hand-cut and taken back to camp to be worked, shaped, sanded, tuned and then finally painted.

These are top quality musical instruments, highly regarded worldwide, and still used in ceremony and performance today. Featuring traditional designs handed painted with a Jarlk grass brush.

 

Most Ghunamrn didjeridus are high pitch D, low pitch D, F, C or G. The longer the dij the lower the pitch, a shorter didj will give a higher sound.

Name: Jason Garmu


Language: Yolngu


Community: Wugularr (Beswick)


Biography:

Jason is a self taught specialist in the art of making hunting implements including spear, bondock, boomerang, shield, and "jumbar-jumbar" or nula-nula/fighting stick.

Using a mix of traditional techniques and materials, through to modern "on hand at the time" components, all his hunting implements are functional. Some may be single use, but in the right hands are deadly. This crafting skill came from a desire to provide for self through hunting. As a young child he often needed a spear. He would use one, then go back to camp, and create a fresh one; Learn, rinse, repeat.

Bush tucker knowledge came from always being out on country & hunting. Cooking traditional ways went hand in hand with this.

Jason is a traditional Bungul dancer and occasionally plays didj for this ceremony.


© the artist / art centre