The didjeridu (commonly spelt didgeridoo) or yidaki (Gumatji clan) of the Australian
aboriginal people is a very ancient instrument with considerable acoustic interest,
despite its extremely simple construction. It consists of a more-or-less
straight piece of a species of tree trunk or branch, hollowed
out by the successive action of fire and termites to produce a gently flaring tube.
Didjeridus from Central Australia are typically about one metre in length, while
those from Arnhem Land are usually about 1.5 metres long. The longer didjeridus
are now generally preferred because they allow a greater range of musical effects.
In each case the blowing end is about 30 mm in internal diameter and the free end
about 50 mm, though all these dimensions vary significantly from one instrument
to another, even among those by the same maker. The average wall thickness is
usually 5 to 10 mm. At the blowing end, the walls are coated with a rim of resinous
gum, to improve playing comfort, and the free end is often given a slight extra
flare by internal scraping. The outside of the instrument is smoothed and
painted in geometrical totemic designs, usually in black, white and orange.

Yidaki was only used in north east Arnham Land from before european settlement and only in
recent decades people from other areas using it & copying it.

The above instrument belongs to our eldest daughter's partner and he
painted it himself. He leaves the Yidaki in our music room. It
is against tribal custom where he comes from (Gumatj clan) for girls to play it.



Players of the instrument often use it to accompany traditional songs or stories and,
to this end, embellish their playing by adding the sung sounds of barking dingos,
brolgas and other animals. The pitch of these vocal sounds is rather high so that
frequency mixing does not have such a pronounced effect, and the sounds can
be made easily recognisable. The yidaki in the video is very old & belonged to the
original Yothu Yindi and has toured the world many times in the 1980's and 1990's.

There are a number of stories revealing something of the significance of the Didjeridu
to the Aboriginals of northern Australia. It is seen as a phallic symbol and male
instrument, with women in many areas traditionally prohibited from playing.

Gulkula is the home of the Yolngu ancestor from the spirit world Ganbulabula (a story from
the clan Sonja's partner belongs to).

Ganbulabula was managing a funeral ceremony for the Matjurr spirit people. The Damala
spirit people were the dancers at the ceremony. A decorated log coffin waited in the
centre of the ceremonial ground to receive the body of the dead. Ganbulabula was
annoyed at the trouble making and dissention between the spirits. The funeral ceremony
was supposed to be a healing of the divisions in the past.
As in-fighting and confusion degenerated the ceremony into a shambles,
the wise Ganbulabula performed an extraordinary act.
He picked up the log coffin and flung it eastwards and into the sea off
Nanydjaka (Cape Arnhem). This great feat grabbed the attention of those around
him, and caused the spirit people to put an end to their disagreements and reunite.
At Garma 2000, a totem of Ganbulabula takes pride of place, looking out to sea on the
edge of the clearing. The story of Ganbulabula is symbolic to the festival. Garma
is all about unity, harmony, and the fostering of understanding. Ganbulabula,
who united the Yolngu and gave them the gift of the yidaki. At this festival
and at all future festivals, a decorative log coffin will be constructed during
the event and placed proudly next to the totem of Ganbulabula,
as a reminder of his actions.