Description
dhapa ganambarr
Earth pigments on Stringybark hollow pole
133.5 x 7cm
Year: 2025
ID: 340-25
Yiḏaki
Yiḏaki are didjeridus that are specific to North East Arnhem land in Australia’s Northern Territory, where the instrument originates. The term yiḏaki is used in Yolŋu (the nation of North East Arnhem land Aboriginal people) languages as the generic name for the didjeridu. The name yiḏaki is most correctly used for instruments from this region that have been solely made and decorated by Yolŋu people.
Yiḏaki were originally limited to the northern extremes of Australia, in particular Arnhem land. In relatively recent years, yiḏaki spread to other parts of Australia and the rest of the world. Yiḏaki began to be manufactured in different ways and with different types of materials. It became commonly known as the didjeridu, a non-Aboriginal term for the instrument. Through it’s international popularisation as the didjeridu, it has been somewhat displaced from it’s spiritual and cultural roots that are still held by the Yolŋu in Arnhem land today. The Yolŋu are masters of making and playing the yiḏaki and are well known internationally for their quality instruments and complex yiḏaki playing styles.
Yolŋu artists carefully select naturally occurring termite hollowed tree stems, which are cut and shaped into suitable sounding instruments. They are made with certain desired acoustics that can vary dramatically between different clans, from high pitch to very low. Typical yiḏaki have small natural wooden mouthpieces around 30mm in diameter and taper out to a diameter of around 100mm at the distal end. Having a small mouthpiece means they require less air to play and produce sound easily as a result.
In appearance yiḏaki seem to be a simple instrument, however the playing styles of the Yolŋu are complex and require many years of practice. Yiḏaki are played by vibrating the lips which produces a basic tone. This tone is maintained continually using cyclic breathing and is varied through use of the playing pressure, the tension in the cheeks, the use of the diaphragm, the tongue position and the use of the voice.
Traditionally, yiḏaki are painted with naturally occurring red, white, black and yellow earth pigments. In recent years acrylic paints began to be used. Both the artwork and the sound and overall style of the yiḏaki denote cultural history and law.
This particular yidaki has been made by Dhapa Ganambarr. His work is of consistently high quality. What distinguishes Dhapa from other yiḏaki makers is his attention to detail and his innovation. His instruments boast a fine finish both in the shape and the artwork, plus he is prepared to make them in a way that appeals to the non-aboriginal buyers of them, taking great care and time to shape the mouthpiece so it is very comfortable when playing.
Dhapa has painted this yiḏaki with a design that represents the leaves of Gadayka (Stringybark – Eucalyptus Tetradonta), the same tree that yiḏaki are made from. Gadayka is an important resource for Yolŋu, the bark, tree trunks and leaves being used for many different purposes. Gadayka leaves are often held in the hands of dancers in ceremony.
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