This is the music and language of the Djabugay people, an Australian Aboriginal tribe.

The Djabugay are a group of Australian Aboriginal people who are the original inhabitants of mountains, gorges, land and waters of a richly forested part of the wet tropics of Queensland including the famous Barron Gorge and its surrounding areas. The melody you heard in the background are the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo – a long hollow wooden tub like structure that you blow into. Trust me, it is much more complicated than it sounds but the music or tones are so melodious and soothing.Dja-bu-guy (also known as Tjapukai) is the name of the tribe of Aboriginals who live in the Kuranda region in Queensland in Australia. The present Kuranda Village was called Ngunbay or the place of platypus which is a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal native to eastern Australia. The Kuranda region was once an important camping area with good fishing and hunting for locals tribe. In those early years, Kuranda was a farming area producing mainly timber, dairy cattle and coffee. The village has evolved a lot since then and today, it’s a vibrant little community in the rainforest enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

But like many native cultures around the world a lot happened when colonization spread. Much of the original culture and heritage of these tribes were destroyed or lost. People were killed, whole communities obliterated and their way of life threatened. A similar story happened to many of Australia’s aboriginal tribes. Yet over time a different kind of movement started to emerge. A movement to document, preserve and promote the indigenous way of life – the aboriginal culture, history, art, dance and lifestyle – not just for their dependents but also for others now living in many of the colonized states.Ever since starting CulturallyOurs and connecting with people all over the world, I have definitely become more aware of all the diversity around me – be it in art, food, culture and lifestyle. I love learning and listening to people as they share their story, their culture and their heritage. I seek out experiences that will educate me and help me understand the world as I know it. It is so easy to say what happened does not matter because it does not affect me, or question if what happened was so long ago is even relevant. But to appreciate and accept today, we must understand what happened yesterday. And work together on how things can be made better. During my time in Australia, it was so refreshing to see Aboriginal culture being promoted in schools as part of the curriculum, at events and at concerts. Indigenous tribes were welcomed into tourist places and many indigenous tour operators promoted and encouraged. I know these things take time but the fact that change is welcomed and encouraged was exciting to see. Australia’s aboriginal culture is beautiful and so very rich in its narratives. There is an inherent connection among all living things and nature. It is considered one of the oldest living cultures because these practices are still in place and built up generation after generation as young people want to understand where they really come from.

So I welcome you to listen and appreciate the music, the dance and storytelling culture of the Djabugay people – one of Eastern Australia’s aboriginal tribes – on this episode of CulturallyOurs.

Clip of Djabugay performance at their Tjabagai center in Cairns Australia (a must see when you go explore the Great Barrier Reef).

Clip of a Didgeridoo performance by the Djabugay people

 

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