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And now for something completely different...
My personal Naiuwa didjeridu's
Click to play audio
Finished instruments waiting to be sold
Me in Geralds workshop playing the didjeridu shown below. Click on the picture to hear this instrument
An excellent alternative to a traditional stick..
During a recent visit to Australia (December/January 2008/2009) I had the good fortune to meet up with an indigenous family in Northern Queensland and took the opportunity to sample some of the exquisite didjeridu's (visually and sonically) they make. I had a guided tour of their small operation (a couple of sheds) where I was shown everything from the freshly cut blanks at the cutting stage to the finished article.
This family are descendants and have spiritual and traditional connections with the Southern Yiddinji people of Daradjii North Queensland area and the Frazer Island / Hervey Bay Butchula people of Southeast Queensland. The whole family are involved in the business, the father, Gerald, and his son do the heavy work of cutting the trees and shaping the instruments whilst the women, the mother and two daughters, carry out the artwork. Every didjeridu is crafted from naturally termite hollowed eucalyptus, decorated with burnt images and fine artwork then finished to an extremely high standard.
Gerald took the time to explain to me the extent he goes to, to find the right eucalyptus trees, sometimes travelling up to 5 hours away and staying for days to collect the best specimens. This is no modern chainsaw massacre!!! but a time consuming manual task of finding a tree which looks like termites have attacked it, tapping it and listening to the response, making a cut to check it is in fact hollow and then finally cutting the trunk or branch ready to be taken home. Naiuwa is very respectful of the forest around him and only cuts what he needs, therefore leaving virtually no impact at all on the environment.
Every Naiuwa didjeridu (with a very few exceptions) has the distinctive decorative band unique to this family which is the symbol of the spirit woman, the spirit that has guided the family in their work. The name "Naiuwa" meaning "Green Turtle" was given to Gerald by the young Aboriginals whom he is so keen to help in his community, the turtle is a prominent feature in the artwork on many of his didjeridu's.
These instruments have gained national and international recognition not only for their artwork but for their sound quality and durability. I was so impressed that I not only bought three, there and then, for my own personal use (I will be using the smallest one to teach my 7 year old son how to play) but I also mentioned to Gerald my interest in purchasing further instruments and selling these for him in the UK, this was greeted by him with great enthusiasm. I enjoyed my short time in his company taking in all that he spoke about and listening to him play some of his finished and unfinished (bare trunks sometimes) instruments. Never before have I personally seen someone play a tree with a hole through it let alone try it myself!!
Naiuwa does not usually sell directly to the individual as he is a private humble man who prefers to keep his business "low key" and separate from his private life, therefore only selling through his few outlets. I was therefore very privileged to go to his home and sample many of the fine instruments and, struck by the quality of what I saw and played, went back to the UK excited about my visit and plans to include these instruments on my site. I re-visited him in August 2009 and spent quite a time there having tea and selecting some instruments to be shipped here to the UK so you will find a fine selection of their fantastic didjeridu's displayed on this site very soon. My heart and first choice though stays with the traditional "stick" but, if you want an alternative to a traditional Yidaki or Mago yet still want a genuine aboriginal didjeridu and at the same time be sure you are supporting an indigenous family operated business, then this is the way to go. These are unique and stunning instruments In every respect.
During a recent visit to Australia (December/January 2008/2009) I had the good fortune to meet up with an indigenous family in Northern Queensland and took the opportunity to sample some of the exquisite didjeridu's (visually and sonically) they make. I had a guided tour of their small operation (a couple of sheds) where I was shown everything from the freshly cut blanks at the cutting stage to the finished article.
This family are descendants and have spiritual and traditional connections with the Southern Yiddinji people of Daradjii North Queensland area and the Frazer Island / Hervey Bay Butchula people of Southeast Queensland. The whole family are involved in the business, the father, Gerald, and his son do the heavy work of cutting the trees and shaping the instruments whilst the women, the mother and two daughters, carry out the artwork. Every didjeridu is crafted from naturally termite hollowed eucalyptus, decorated with burnt images and fine artwork then finished to an extremely high standard.
Gerald took the time to explain to me the extent he goes to, to find the right eucalyptus trees, sometimes travelling up to 5 hours away and staying for days to collect the best specimens. This is no modern chainsaw massacre!!! but a time consuming manual task of finding a tree which looks like termites have attacked it, tapping it and listening to the response, making a cut to check it is in fact hollow and then finally cutting the trunk or branch ready to be taken home. Naiuwa is very respectful of the forest around him and only cuts what he needs, therefore leaving virtually no impact at all on the environment.
Every Naiuwa didjeridu (with a very few exceptions) has the distinctive decorative band unique to this family which is the symbol of the spirit woman, the spirit that has guided the family in their work. The name "Naiuwa" meaning "Green Turtle" was given to Gerald by the young Aboriginals whom he is so keen to help in his community, the turtle is a prominent feature in the artwork on many of his didjeridu's.
These instruments have gained national and international recognition not only for their artwork but for their sound quality and durability. I was so impressed that I not only bought three, there and then, for my own personal use (I will be using the smallest one to teach my 7 year old son how to play) but I also mentioned to Gerald my interest in purchasing further instruments and selling these for him in the UK, this was greeted by him with great enthusiasm. I enjoyed my short time in his company taking in all that he spoke about and listening to him play some of his finished and unfinished (bare trunks sometimes) instruments. Never before have I personally seen someone play a tree with a hole through it let alone try it myself!!
Naiuwa does not usually sell directly to the individual as he is a private humble man who prefers to keep his business "low key" and separate from his private life, therefore only selling through his few outlets. I was therefore very privileged to go to his home and sample many of the fine instruments and, struck by the quality of what I saw and played, went back to the UK excited about my visit and plans to include these instruments on my site. I re-visited him in August 2009 and spent quite a time there having tea and selecting some instruments to be shipped here to the UK so you will find a fine selection of their fantastic didjeridu's displayed on this site very soon. My heart and first choice though stays with the traditional "stick" but, if you want an alternative to a traditional Yidaki or Mago yet still want a genuine aboriginal didjeridu and at the same time be sure you are supporting an indigenous family operated business, then this is the way to go. These are unique and stunning instruments In every respect.
Key E/F
Key D/G