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Published by CompNet Systems on

Wodoi & Djingun (spotted nightjar & owlet nightjar)

Wodoi and Djingun are two birds which represent the two skin types (clans or moieties) to which all Wandjina people belong. Woody and Djingun were fighting over sugar bags (bush honey). Djingun hit Wodoi and the blood from Wodoi flowed crimson, to represent red ochre. Wodoi then retaliated and struck Djingun, whose blood was much paler. This represents white ochre. Both birds then realised that their fighting was pointless and shared the honey. All the while the Wandjinas were watching and passed this story on to the people to show that different tribes can get on together. Today at Mowanjum the law of Wodoi and Djingun is still very strong. A Wodoi person must always marry someone from the Djingun moiety and vice-versa. In this way the people believe that the bloodlines will stay strong and help keep the spirit of the Wandjina alive.

Categories: MOWANJUM ART AND CULTURE CENTRE

Name: Mildred Minggi Mungulu

Language: Worrora, Wunambal

Community: Mowanjum

Biography:

Mildred was born at Derby in the old Native Hospital (Numbala Nunga) and spent her 22 years at Mowanjum (“old site”) on the Derby Highway. This was where Mildred watched her father Alan Mungulu (dec) make didgeridoos and boomerangs at home. “When I was there, I would see him do them.” It was being near the traditional crafting of these objects that created a connection to the traditional culture which assisted Mildred’s own craft as a painter. In 1979 the community was moved to a new site on the Gibb River Road and this is where Mildred now resides.

Mildred paints, “what represents us, from our mothers and fathers. We keep it going from generation to generation.” Her artwork demonstrates an array of traditional symbolic representations, including Wandjinas from the three tribes of the Mowanjum community: the Ngarinyin, Worrorra and Wunambal tribes. Coastal Wandjina are signified by the series of circular lines crossed with radial lines fanning from the Wandjina’s head. It has been said this represents a cyclone and lightning.

Traditionally a painter, etching is a new medium now being explored by Mildred.

 

 

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