Darryl Digarrnga | playing styles, cultural property PART 1

This video clip is the result of interesting conversations I had with Darryl Digarrnga which started with the two of us listening to old field recordings of Arnhem Land traditional music. I asked Darryl off the cuff if he could play Bunggul style from NE Arnhem Land. He replied in the negative, saying that his grandfather David Blanasi, despite having traveled extensively through the NT, kept to his own style and taught Darryl not to encroach on the playing styles of other regions. He plays his own Gunborrk style, and leaves the Bunggul style to Miwatj people (Yolngu-speaking groups of NE Arnhem Land). Darryl uses the words 'steal' and 'stealing' when speaking of the appropriation of playing styles from other regions.

The conversation led to me asking Darryl about Balanda who were interested in learning traditional mago or yirdaki playing styles... was this ok or not? Darryl's first response was that it was ok as they are Balanda and thus not subject to the same laws, restrictions or expectations that are applicable to 'tribal' people. However, when I brought up the issue of Balanda profiting from performing and teaching traditional styles, Darryl's response was different which was that only Aboriginal people should profit from teaching and performing traditional playing styles. However, some elders are against Balanda playing the didgeridoo at all, whatever style they play - traditional or contemporary.

Darryl's own conclusion seems to be that it is ok for Balanda to learn from Aboriginal people. And learning from Aboriginal people entails a transaction of sorts... in today's society, the exchange of money. In times past, a transaction between Aboriginal groups could involved ceremonial exchange or the trade of economic resources and other goods.

Without this transaction, financial or otherwise, anything taken without permission might be considered as 'stealing'.

This video was recorded purposely in Kune as well as English. Kune is Darryl's first language, and belongs to the group of dialects known as Bininy Gun-wok, part of the Gunwinjguan language family.

This is the first part of the recording.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• darryl
• digarrnga
• dikarrna
• brown
• mialli
• rembarrnga
• white
• cockatoo
• aboriginal
• bininy
• arnhem
• gunborrk
• kune

[SeaofSamsara]

Dear Mr Digarrnga please accept our sincere apologies for racist comments posted here. These people shame themselves.

[themisfits6669]

Ok ill fix all of this, Fuck everyone that has said something bad about aboriginal people, Mr. Digarrnga, or didgeridoos :]

[ladiesmany21730]

@kpj200 ceep that shit to yourself cos all your gonna do is start an argument about religion

[didgmaster]

i cant believe that someone would leave racist,disrespectful comments here get a life the aboriginals are the rightful owners of our great country and deserve respect, and no i am not an aboriginal but would give anything to have lived with these people 3-400 years ago !!!!!!!

[PowdeRade]

@kpj200 fuck of with that religous shit

[kreathan1]

white people have made invented great things but have all so fuck this world with polution an wars an propaganda , dont bag didgeridoos

[VoodooFlintstone]

@ray25620 Yes but the Aborigines created what they did without government grants, any western education, this is a small race, so what they did with their small number compared to what the White man did with their Billions and billions of people doesn't compare for that reason, also, Aborigines wouldn't need Vaccinations, Medicnes etc if it wasn't FOR the white man coming to their place of existence.

[sonofthedestroyer]

LOL!

Not that much like Danny GLover.

But that Quincy Matjaki guy looked so much like Dave Chappelle when Quincy had a bald head

[sammou22]

i think he is a beautifull human being

[xIchikunx]

WHAT THE FUCK1?!?!!?

[Mo0nBugGy1]

Christ can get fucked.

[kpj200]

Christ created everything and he saved man and. he can definately save you