Widi's dhapi' - initiation ceremony - Galiwinku, Elcho Island, 2009

I was commissioned by families to film this initiation ceremony (dhapi') at Galiwin'ku, Elcho Island, earlier in the year (2009).

The occasion was the initiation of young boys, including 'Widi', son of Selma Guykarri and Henry Mirarra'. Widi can be seen in another of my YouTube clips playing yirdaki as a 6 year old:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwT8YmRYqfc

Prominent participants and leaders in this ceremony include Charlie Matjuwi (singer), Terrence Gaypalani (artist and djunggaya), Brendan Ganambarr (djunggaya and doctor - the person who 'cuts' the dhapi'), Carl Ngalkanbuy (yirdaki player, notice his change in shirt!), and others. The two singing groups are Burarrwanga Gumatj and Wangurri. The best yirdaki in this ceremony was the instrument with black and red duct tape, the personal instrument of Dhapan Yunupingu used by the Wangurri singing group.

For YouTube purposes, this video has been heavily edited to keep the clip under 10 minutes (filming started in the morning and ended in the evening), hence the frequent cuts and transitions. Also, the end part of the ceremony cannot be shown publicly, it is men's business, sorry.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• dhapi'
• initiation
• ceremony
• galiwin'ku
• elcho
• island
• yirdaki
• yidaki
• didgeridoo
• didjeridu
• terrence
• gaypalani
• gaypalwani
• carl
• ngalkanbuy
• mirarra'
• matjuwi
• burarrwanga
• yolngu
• arnhem
• land
• arnhemland
• manikay
• bunggul
• aboriginal
• circumcision

[ididgeit]

Thanks for the interesting video. Just curious..do they administer anesthetics?

[ididjaustralia]

no they don't

[JustinFromSydney]

>> the end part of the ceremony cannot

>> be shown publicly

Is that because it's gorey?

[ididjaustralia]

Because women aren't supposed to see or to know, it belongs to the men's domain.

[WhiteTiger333]

Alright - I saw the men do a crouching sort of dance with the now beautifully decorated boys. Then I saw the women dance/chant over bodies covered in quilts. At the end of the clip, the quilts were removed to reveal adults, I think. What were those bits about? And, during the dancing, was each boy surrounded by family? Looked like something a bit different going on with each boy, maybe just the result of editing.

Very cool chanting/ceremony. Thank you!!

[ididjaustralia]

The dance at the end was the crocodile dance. Each initiate was looked after by his dhuway, his brother-in-law, who guided him with respect to the dance movements. The women under the sheets are mothers of the initiates. Too much to explain as to the meaning, but needless to say, is steeped deeply in mythology

[blackiebori]

MANYIMAK!

[333baxter333]

The Rhythm of the sticks is good.

[333baxter333]

The Dig playing is superb!

[333baxter333]

God I love this! the dancing Great.

@ so is the chanting.

[romankf]

Impresionante. Gracias.

[trolltrumman]

love how he at 3:47 uses the chair to hear himself

[trante3]

Thanks for sharing ...

[SpiritualTV]

Always an honorable and pleasurable experience to watch your video's Guan. With many thanks for sharing them