Burrngupurrngu Wunungmurra

Date of Birth - c. 1950
Moiety - Yirritja
Homeland - Gurrumuru
Clan - Dhalwangu
Clan Language - Dhay'yi

Burrngupurrngu is one of the foremost yidaki makers of northeast Arnhem Land and a senior lawman for the Dhalwangu clan. His wife Djul'djul' is a very talented painter from the Gälpu clan, making their collaborative work some of our best and most collectible yidaki. Although he is sometimes busy with ceremonial responsibilities for months at a time, Burrngupurrngu and Djul'djul' are hard workers with a consistent standard, so we usually have good yidaki from them in stock.

Burrngupurrngu was born an identical twin to parents Nyepaynga (John) Wunungmurra and Gangarriwuy Wanambi, younger brother to prolific artist and leader Yanggarriny Wunungmurra (deceased).

As a young boy he spent a lot of time in the bush with his father and twin brother Djalawu. He recalls learning a lot from his father. "We learnt everything together, me and my wäwa (brother)." He stayed at the Yirrkala mission where he attended school and learnt English. During this time he would visit Manydjarri Ganambarr and learn yidaki. "When I was a little boy, I was learning dip a dhirrk dip a dhirrk, I would go out bush by myself and look around for yidaki. I learnt a lot from Manydjarri and Djalu. When I was about 18 I started learning manikay, for bunggul, ceremony."

Burrngupurrngu is well respected amongst Yolngu communities for his knowledge of yidaki making and playing. As a young man he was sought after to play in ceremony. In the 1970's, he was invited to be part of an international tour, performing traditional Yolngu song and dance. This was one of this first groups that had ever done this. "I went with Djambawa ga Gawirrin. I've been to dhangang' wänga (many places), Paris, New York, Singapore, London, Canada all round Australia... bukmak (all)." He has taught many people who themselves are now leaders (including Datjirri #1 Wunungmurra and Milkayngu Mununggurr) and continues to share his knowledge with Yolngu youth.

"Ngäpaki (non-aboriginals) should respect yidaki ga Yolngu. We are the first people to play yidaki, first people singing ga dancing bunggul djäma (ceremony) with bilma (clapsticks)."