From the archives to the air
the Wanji-wanji travelling corroboree
Working with the Gurindji people in northwest Northern Territory in 2015, on the book Songs from the Stations, Myfany Turpin and Felicity Meakins recorded a song called “Laka”. It turned out that this song is a travelling ceremony known widely across inland Australia and in many places it is called ‘Wanji-wanji’. It was performed in the 1840s, as ethnographer Daisy Bates wrote down the verses at a 1914 performance, writing that 70-year old Tharnduriri knew the songs from his boyhood.
Our research located 10 archival recordings of it the earliest from 1955; as well as many references to it being performed across inland Australia. Today it is not regularly performed though it is still widely known and is associated with a bygone era.
Associate Professor Myfany Turpin, The University of Sydney
Professor Clint Bracknell, The University of Western Australia
Professor Felicity Meakins, The University of Queensland
This research project aims to bring the Wanji-wanji ceremony and Aboriginal people’s memory of this ceremony to broader public attention. Part detective story, part oral history, the story of the life and disappearance of Wanji-wanji still speaks to the modern world. How did songs travel from community to community in an age before audio recordings or radio? This well-known song attests to the vast social networks that spread across Australia, long before the whiteman’s roads and telegraph lines worked their way into inland Australia.
Wanji-wanji is a journey through the modern history of Aboriginal people in outback Australia. Interviewing senior people from across the region who sing and recall this ceremony, as well as playing archival recordings to descendants of the Wanji-wanji singers of the past, the research team has covered great distances to document knowledge and memories of this unique ceremony and song.
Investigators
Myfany Turpin, The University of Sydney
Clint Bracknell
Felicity Meakins, University of Queensland
Storymap Development and Archival Management
Jodie Kell, University of Sydney
Film and Audio Production
Rob Nugent, Elle Frederickson, Shane Malcahey, Wanyima Wighton, Ben Deacon, Clarence Playford
Regional Collaborators
Western Australia
Goldfields-Esperance: Sonny Graham, Annie Dabb, Wanika Close, Julie Dabb
Pilbara: David Stock†, Hilda Flann, Alec Tucker†, Waka Taylor, Desmond Taylor, Barbara Hale, Wendy Hubert, Sheila Sampie, Charlie Coppin, Stephen Stewart, Irene Biwarli Roberts, Muuki Taylor, Nyari-Nyari Morgan, Milton Chapman, Nola Simpson, Joan Wilbourforce, Lorraine Inje, Janet Stewart and Bruce Thomas (Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre), Annie Edwards-Cameron (IBN), Duke (KJ)
Kimberley: John Watson, Joe Brown†, Elsie Dickens, KALAAC, Jean Tinghe Minga Napurrurla, Julie Lawford, Rita Mingaand (KLC), Suzie Gilbert, Betty Hunter, Winnie Coppin, Jessica Bangu, Anna Dwyer, Steven Kinanne, Anthony Watson (KLC) and Wayne Barker (KALACC)
Balgo & Bililuna: Jack Gordon†, Marie Gordon†, Patrick Smith, Marie Mudgell, Angie Tchooga, Jimmy Tchooga, Helicopter Tjungarrayi, Tom Ennever, and Luis Miguel Rojas Berscia
Northern Territory
Alice Springs: Steven Kunoth Turner and Jason Gibson, MK Turner†, Amelia Turner, Kathleen Kemarre Wallace†, Alan Drover, John Cavanagh, Syd Strangways, Tommy Thompson†, Shaun Angeles, Judy Lovell, Marina Strocchi
Warlpiri region: Jerry Jangala, Harry Nelson, Lynette Granites, Lucy Nampjinpa, Alice Nampijinpa Henwood, Joe Bird Jangala, Michael Nelson, Paddy Willis, Robin Granites (translator)
Anangu region: Nellie Patterson, Iluwanti Ken, Josephine Mick, Tinpulya Mervyn, Angkurna Pantjardi Tjitiya, Anmanari Napanangka, Ginger Wikilyiri, Jill Kumantyayi Nakamarra, Martha Protty, Mick Wakilyiri, Nyiinku Kulitja, Nyinguta Edwards, Renee Kulitja, Tinpulya Mervyn
Pantjiti Unkari McKenzie OAM, Tjarriya Stanley, Tjukapati James, Tjunkaya Tapaya, Toby Farmer, Carlene Thompson, Ngilan Dodd, Sammy Dodd, Maimi Butler, Inpiti Winton, Thomas Murray, Robert Woods, Glen Cooke, Anniwari Mitchell, Winston Mitchell, Pantjiya Nungarrayi, Harry Dixon Japanangka, Roy Yaltjangki, Bernhard Newbury, Bernhard Tjalkuri, Lucy Lester and translators Karina Lester, Lizzie Ellis, Inawinytji Williamson, Beth Sometimes and Patrick Hockey
Victoria River Downs: Bill Yidumduma Harney, Ronnie Wavehill†, Topsy Dodd†, Peanut Pontiari Bernard†, Thomas Monkey Yikapayi†, Paddy Doolak Jangari†, Banjo Ryan Lurlngayarri†, Steven Long Jangala, Timmy Vincent, Brenda L. Croft
Pintupi region: Patrick Jungarrayi Ooladoodi†, Bobby West, Bundy Rowe Tjupurrurla, Charlie Tjapangardi Warlampirri, Cindy Gibson, Clara Rowe Napurrurla, Doris Bush, Douglas Malta†, Dulcie Roberts, Elizabeth Marks, Eunice Napangka Jack, Frieda Brady, George Jungarrayi, Jeannie Pegg, Josephine Napurrurla, Josephine Brown, Linda Anderson Nantaya, Lyle Gibson†, Napurla Scobie, Nayuma Napangarti, Noya Napurrurla, Pamela Tolsen Nakamarra, Phillip Lane Jampijinpa, Richard Pegg, Robert Nanala Tjapaljarri, George Lee, Xavier Tjapangangka, Rubilee Napurrurla, Tatuli Napurrurla, Mitjili Napurrurla, Gerrard Anderson, Griselda Giles, Ena Napangardi, Marlene Spencer, Fred Myers (NYU), The Purple House and translators Jessie Bartlett and Lance MacDonald†
NSW
Norma Dutton, Dorothy Whitton, Jacqueline Dutton, Julie Finlayson (ANU), Jeremy Beckett, Jeremy Long†, PARADISEC
South Australia
Salote Bovoro, Clara Stockigt, Paul Monaghan, Deanne Fergie
Special thanks to
Peter Bartlett, Reuben Brown, Renee Browning, Jeff Bruer (PAW Media), Andrew Dowding, Julie Finlayson (ANU), Ken Hansen, Luise Hercus†, Tom Holder, (PY Media), Shanay Hubmann, Jeff Holcombe, Diana James, Jodie Kell, Michael Liddle, Penny MacDonald, Shirleen McLaughlin, Richard Moyle, Neahlan Namie, David Nash, Cornel Ozies, Elliot Peck, Rebecca Smith, Paul Taylor, Neil Turner (PAKAM), Janelle White, Wanyima Wighton
