I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Boonwurrung People the Traditional Owners of the land on which this article was written today. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present.
Why are song and dance an important part of the Australian Culture?
Being able to pass on information to the next generation is what a culture is made of. With the oldest continious culture of the world found right here in Australia, there is a lot of history. Whilst some was lost during colonisation there is still a rich and vibrant history kept alive and passed on through song and dance, the arts and the dreaming.
Today we will watch some songlines from a few of the over 500 nations that make up Australia.
The Marella (Emu Man) Songline is from the Djugan Country, which starts at Gantheaume Point in Broome, and travels through the Dampier Peninsular, crosses the sea to Kulumburru and on to Uluru.
The Lurujarri Songline starts north of One Arm Point and travels 450 kilometers to the south of Bidyadanga, the exit place.
This Manikay is sung traditionally by Djambarrpunu Clan. Milkarri is a sorrow Manikay (songline), is sung by women from this clan to cry about a longing for Ngurruyurrtjurr (homeland/clan).
The women travel from Roebourne in the Pilbara and move, in some cases underground, all the way through to Kiwikurra in the Great Sandy Desert far to the south of Balgo, where they split up, some heading east and some north.
The women are searching for men to take as husbands.
