The didgeridoo holds great fascination for those who have heard it, regardless of cultural background, because it is unlike any other instrument.
Apart from also being a work of art, its sounds and rhythms conjure up something that rises out of the depths of the earth to tell stories of remote mythical times.
Although most people take it to be symbolic of indigenous Australian culture, before European settlement, the didgeridoo was only known and used in the upper tropical parts of Australia where traditional cultural practices have been maintained due to the remoteness of tropical areas that resisted attempts to establish outposts for a prolonged period of time compared to other parts of the country.
Guan Lim, from the Australian Didgeridoo Cultural Hub, has worked to educate the public about indigenous cultural practices associated with the instrument.
He points to the fact that there has been a diffusion of culture due to roads and settlements throughout Australia; however, "the didgeridoo is still considered sacred in Arnhem Land, also some parts of the north-west around the Kimberleys and between the Northern Territory and the Kimberleys, cultural practices are still being maintained and considered sacred."
For Aboriginal people in Arnhem Land, the didgeridoo is part of the Dreamtime when Ancestral Beings created the land, all the life forms on it as well as the moral code by which human beings could live.
The didgeridoo is considered to be part of the very genesis of life and culture, and an instrument by which to impart sacred knowledge.
According to Djalu Gurruwiwi – a senior member of the Galpu clan – a didgeridoo made by a traditional owner or custodian has spirit, while an instrument made by a non-Indigenous person is a musical instrument like a trumpet or a trombone. The same applies to didgeridoos made by Aboriginal people who do not have the instrument as part of their cultural heritage.
Even within the culture of the custodians there are occasions when a different sort of didgeridoo is brought out to be viewed only by initiated men and whose inner secrets are only known by the most senior elders vested with maintaining the law. Transgression of this law carries serious penalties, including death by sorcery.
Currently, the didgeridoo is accessible for all to hear. Surprisingly, Guan Lim points out:
"The instrument is sacred, but it's not secret. Arnhem Land elders have travelled overseas in counties that include Dubai, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, France, Japan and Taiwan for public performances. When they perform, they repeat exactly what they do in ceremonies. There are set patterns and rhythms that can't be changed, so the format is in its original form – it's just that the context is different. The songs and dances aren't modified and sometimes the songs have a hidden meaning."
The didgeridoo may also play a part in helping non-indigenous Australians and other people to gain a better understanding about the culture.
Many people are fascinated by the circular breath used to play the instrument – the technique that allows players to perform continuously without stopping for a breath while taking small, regular breaths through the nose to keep the lungs topped up.
Accomplished traditional Aboriginal players can display exhilarating techniques and complex compositions of great subtlety. Mr Lim thinks that the mysterious sound of the didgeridoo may serve to spark an interest in Aboriginal languages and cultures.
Despite the taboos associated with the didgeridoo, its spreading popularity has meant that many musicians both within Australia and elsewhere have taken up learning to play it. It is also being made in all parts of Australia, even in Tasmania and the desert regions, although it is not used in ceremonies and is played for entertainment.
Dance groups use the didgeridoo as part of their ensemble. Mr Lim doesn't necessarily see this as a negative thing – the main issue is not to lose the traditional culture or mistake the new for the old.
"Where there are custodians, there are issues with who can sing certain songs, who can dance certain dances.If that culture is diminished because of misrepresentation of the instrument, it will be lost. If the whole world is only preoccupied with new then we've really lost something that is significant and something that is worth to hold."
To learn more about the didgeridoo, visit
http://www.ididj.com.au.
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