Walakandha Wangga

For the last 40 years or so, the Walakandha wangga, a repertory composed collaboratively by a number of Marri Tjavin singers, has been the most prominent wangga repertory performed in Wadeye. Initiated in the mid-1960s by Stan Mullumbuk (1937–1980), the Walakandha wangga repertory came to function as one arm of a tripartite ceremonial system organising ceremonial life at Wadeye, in complementary relationship with sister repertories djanba and lirrga. The dominant themes of the Walakandha wangga are related to the activities of the Marri Tjavin ancestral dead—the Walakandha—as givers of wangga songs and protectors of their living descendants. Longing for return to Marri Tjavin ancestral country is another common theme. Many specific places are named. Foremost among these is the important hill, Yendili – one of the places where Walakandha ancestors reside.

Allan Marett is professor emeritus of musicology at the University of Sydney.

Linda Barwick is a musicologist collaborating with First Nations communities in Australia since 1985 and Italian communities since 1979. She is currently Emeritus Professor at the University of Sydney, Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Lysbeth Ford is an honorary research associate in the linguistics department at the University of Sydney.

CD 6.1
1. Song i-a: walakandha #8
2. Song ii: walakandha #6
3. Song iii: wutjelli #2
4. Song iv: nginimb-andja
5. Song v: walakandha #7
6. Song i-a: walakandha #8a
7. Song i-b: walakandha #8b
8. Song vi-a: walakandha #9a
9. Song vi-b: walakandha #9b
10. Song vii: yendili #6
11. Song viii: yenmilhi #2
12. Song 1: kubuwemi
13. Song 2: yendili #1
14. Song 3: yendili #2
15. Song 4: walakandha #1
16. Song 5a: truwu [A melody]
17. Song 5b: truwu [B melody]
18. Song 5c: truwu [A/B melody]

CD 6.2
19. Song 6: nadirri
20. Song 7: yenmilhi #1
21. Song 8: mirrwana
22. Song 9: wutjelli #1
23. Song 10: walakandha #2
24. Song 11: pumurriyi
25. Song 12: thidha nany
26. Song 13: dhembedi-ndjen
27. Song 14: tjagawala
28. Song 15: karra
29. Song 16: yendili #5
30. Song 17: yendili #3
31. Song 18: lhambumen
32. Song 19: yendili #4
33. Song 20: walakandha #3
34. Song 21: karra yeri-ngina
35. Song 22: walakandha #4
36. Song 23: walakandha #5
37. Song 24: kinyirr
38. Song 25: wedjiwurang
39. Song 26: tjinmel

Booklet
Introduction
Walakandha’s wangga
Transcription and translation of tracks
Works cited

"I am not aware of any compilation of recordings as comprehensive as this one on any other song genre of Aboriginal Australia. Marett, Barwick and Ford's deep involvement with the people of the Daly River area and their intimate knowledge of the songs, exemplified by Marett's becoming an accomplished performer of wangga, present us with a true labour of love and a great contribution towards interdisciplinary research."
Grace Koch   2018 Yearbook for Traditional Music