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Djalu Gurruwiwi
Dhopiya Yunupingu
Djapilawuy Gurruwiwi
Guykarri Gurruwiwi
Don Weluk
Russel Brian
Jack Pascoe
Frankie Lane
Joe Watson ( Latitj Naromi )
Graham Rostin
Micky Hall
Djalu Gurruwiwi was born c1940 to his mother Djikulu Yunupingu and father Monyu Gurruwiwi. He belongs to the Galpu clan and lives in Ngaypinya in north east Arnhem Land. From small beginnings, making didjeridu's and selling them to local art centres he has become internationally famous as one of THE best Yidaki (didjeridu) craftsmen, he also creates oche bark paintings. Djalu's yidaki, usually quite large in size and crafted from termite hollowed eucalyptus trees, are sought after for their exceptional sound qualities and visual appeal. Being commissioned to make instruments for the Aboriginal Yothu Yindi band only served to cement this position and open up his work to non indigenous people worldwide. But there is more to the man that just being a didjeridu craftsman and player, as head of the Galpu clan (the primary custodians of the yidaki) he has the responsibility, handed down by his father, to protect and maintain everything sacred and religious connected with it. Fame has not given him an inflated view of himself either! Despite being known almost worldwide, participating in festivals in many countries, doing demonstrations, holding master classes, making time for his family and community responsibilities and of course, making yidaki, he welcomes people to his humble home in Arnhem Land, giving private instruction should they wish. All in all, a fine example which western ' famous people' would do well to emulate! Click here..More info about Djalu.......Click here to view Djalu's yidaki
Dhopiya Yunupingu is the wife of Djalu Gurruwiwi, originally from the homeland BiranyBirany and part of a prolific artistic family producing weavings, prints and of course didjeridu's. More recently she has been collaborating with her husband, Djalu Gurruwiwi, in the production and decoration of his yidaki. Dhopiya also is an accomplished instrument maker and has made some excellent yidaki in her own right.
Djapilawy is the daughter of Djalu Gurruwiwi she belongs to the Galpu clan and lives in Ngaypinya in north east Arnhem Land. Djapilawy is an a up and coming talent in the art of yidaki crafting. Many of her yidaki show the characteristics of her fathers instruments in size and sonic capabilities. Her more ornate instruments show up her skill as a talented artist, clearly she spends much time and care in producing yidaki of excellent quality. One maker to keep a close eye on. Click here to view Djapilawuy's yidaki
Guykarri Gurruwiwi is the daughtter of Mulmulpa Gurruwiwi who is the younger brother of Djalu Gurriwiwi. Not as well known for her yidaki making skills as the more prominent members of the Gurruwiwi family but nonetheless an accomplished maker in the style of her uncle. I have two of her yidaki for sale at the moment, slightly smaller in size and lighter than the usual offerings from this family but both are nice instruments in their own right.
Don Weluk is a well respected Arnhem Land artist and musician who also is very adept at making didjerudu's. Don was born in 1967, has been an active artist since the 1990's and has exhibited his work in many national and international exhibitions. He is the brother of George Nawutpu and the uncle to another very well known didjeridu craftsperson, Daphne Banyawarra. He belongs to the Djinang clan (moiety Djowinge, subsection Gamarrang) from East Central Arnhem Land. His instruments tend to be very solid affairs, very well constructed and ideally suited to the (K)Gunborrk playing style of this region.
Joe Watson is also known as Latitj Naromi. Joe was taught by his father, Joe Nyamung, has been an active mago maker since 2005 and also makes hollow log coffins. He is also a former member of the White Cockatoo performing group. He belongs to the Gurrgoni clan (moiety Djowunga, subsection Godjok) from North Central Arnhem land. His instruments are often decorated with finely detailed depictions of waterlilies and include his hand imprints on the upper part of the instruments which generally are thin walled affairs with excellent resonance
Jack Pascoe (Jacky Jaminmarala Pascoe) was born in 1951 and belongs to the Burarra clan (moiety Yirrchinga, subsection Ngarrich) from East Central Arnhem Land and is also an artist painting oches on stringybark. Apart from didjeridu's, he also creates carved and painted wooden sculptures and has exhibited his work in national exhibitions. The is another "Pascoe" ( Nicholas) who belongs to the same clan and who also makes didjeridu's which look similar to Jack's but I can't establish any relationship between the two men.
Wambana Wunungmurra
Russel Brian was born in 1978 and is a well respected maker of quality Mago well suited to the playing styles of the area. He belongs to the Rembarrnga clan (moiety Yirritija subsection Bulany) from South Central Arnhem Land.
Wambana Wunungmurra is the eldest son of local legend Burrngupurrngu, whose mother is from Groote Eylandt. Wambana keeps the tradition alive with his mastery of technique and his blistering pace and is a brilliant yidaki player. He enjoys a reputation in Eastern Arnhem Land as a red hot yidaki player, a skill undoubtedly passed on from father to son. He is not known as a prolific maker of instruments, but crafts the occasional yidaki mainly for his own use. Any yidaki made by him and coming up for sale will be rare and probably used.
Frankie Lane (Skin.. Ngaritj, Language.. Mayalli) is a well known and possibly one of the last remaining "old school" Mago craftsmen from Beswick (Wugularr), South Western Arnhem Land. He crafts fine Mago which are usually painted in the classic cross-hatch patterns of the area.
Micky (Dugurrun) Hall (Skin..Bullinj, Language..Rittharngu) came from South Central Arnhem Land, the stonghold of Mago crafting. He devoted his time evenly to both Didjeridoo manufacture and compositional painting. On his larger pieces he often worked in conjunction with his wife Lidyia or his immediate sons. Micky was also commisioned to complete a painting called "Nargoko " which was left unfinished by fellow didjeridoo and song man D***d B**n**i from the Wugularr (Beswick) dance group when he went missing in 2001. This painting was finally finished in late 2005. Sadly, Micky passed away in September 2008
Graham Rostin ( Skin..Balang, Language.. Rrittharngu ) is a didjeridu craftsman from the Wugularr (Beswick) area of Arnhem Land. Not as well known as others on this site but his instruments merit consideration and are well suited to the playing styles of the area
Bob Burruwal
Bob Burruwal (Buduwal) (Moiety..Duwa, Subsection..Gamarrang) was born in 1952 and comes from South Central Arnhem Land and has been active as an artist since the 1980's. Bob works in a variety of mediums including, fibre, Bronze, Aluminium as well as the more commonly known works ie: didjeridu's, carved and painted wooden sculpture, ochres and pvc fixative on stringy bark and hollow log coffins. He has collectons in a number of Galleries in Australia plus collections in France and the Netherlands and has an impressive list of exhibitions to his name going back to 1982.
Lirrpiritj Gondarra
Lirrpiritj Gondarra was born C 1970 to Alfred Djawanydjawany Gondarra, he lives at Dhalinybuy and belongs to the Golumala clan. He is not a prolific maker of Yidaki but the few instruments that come up for sale are usually very good. A fine player himself, he knows what makes a good instrument. He is in good company because some of the finest yidaki originate from Dhalinybuy.