Corroboree

7/29/2019 Corroboree

1/20

Young dancers from Mowanjum community, (L-R) Nicholas Nenowatt, Dequan

Puemorra and Mathais Bear get ready to perform.

Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield


2/20

These original paintings of the Wandjina, the creation spirit, are housed in in the

Mowanjum art centre. The display replicates the caves found across the Kimberley.

Worrorra elder, Donny Woolagoodja, who is highly respected in the community and

a recognised artist internationally, created the works.



3/20

Male dancers from Warmun community reveal a serpent hidden beneath the

sand and hold it high during the snake dance, causing dust to billow in the

night lights.



4/20

An artist works on a massive banner used in the Mowanjum Festivals

float parade. The painting is of a Wandjina spirit, which has big,

round eyes, a white head and no mouth. According to cultural

beliefs, the spirit is so powerful it has no need to speak.



5/20

Young Ngarinyin dancer,

Keenan Bear is painted in

different shades of ochre, ashe prepares to perform in the

nights corroboree.



6/20

Three Wandjina creation spirits form a backdrop to the nights performance.

Elder Donny Woolagoodja, who was one of the Mowanjum Festivals

initiators back in 1998, introduces each dance on the microphone in the

foreground.



7/20

Dancers from Warmun community, also known as Turkey Creek,

emerge from the shadows onto the dirt stage before 1500 onlookers.



8/20

Another young dancer,

Gallaroo Keith

Bradshaw, from the

Mowanjum

Community is painted

and ready to perform.

One of the aims of the

festival is to inject

cultural pride inyounger generations.

Photo Credit: Matt

Scurfield


9/20

During the festival, Aboriginal youngsters and non-indigenous visitors are

taught cultural traditions, such as the careful art of boab nut carving.



10/20

One of the younger back up dancers for the argula the white devil dance is

decorated in body paint. The ochre stripes and dots differ depending on the gender of

the dancer and the story being told in the dance.



11/20

Dequan Puemorra from the Wanumbul tribe, in full traditional paint, practices

his moves.



12/20

[Gabriel Nodea is

part of the

Warmun dancer

group from Turkey

Creek, who

travelled 750km toMowanjum for the

festival.

Photo Credit: Matt

Scurfield
http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/view-image.htm?index=19&gid=13292http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/view-image.htm?index=19&gid=13292http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/view-image.htm?index=19&gid=13292http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/view-image.htm?index=10&gid=13292


13/20

Worrora Dancers pound the earth with their feet during the hunting dance.



14/20

Boys and girls as young as four are involved in the dances.



15/20

Worrora Dancers carry colourful totems on their shoulders as they perform the

canoe dance.



16/20

A dancer stamps his feet to

the tinkle of clap sticks in

the argula dance. He wears a

fake beard to represent the

devil spirit.


17/20

Dancers carry handmade totems on their shoulders during the corroboree. Totems are

made from wooden boards, some are edged with colourful tread and they have

pictures of eagles, snakes, and the Wandjina spirit painted in the centre.



18/20

Mowanjum kids often use multimedia, such as cameras, video gear and recording equipment

to record and tell cultural stories, linking younger generations to their elders. This girl,

painted up for the nights corroboree, is undoubtedly a budding photographer.



19/20

Journalist Fleur Bainger shares her recording equipment with young Mowanjum girls,

Narelle Umbagai (furthest away on L), Sash Ngerdu (wearing headphones), Shayleen

Ngerdu and Meeka Numendumah (writing in Fleurs notebook) who take to it like ducks to

water.



20/20

A young performer

is painted in

different shades of

ochre, perhaps the

only moment hell

stand still

throughout the

night.

Photo Credit: Matt

Scurfield

Corroboree

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