Bobby Lane Lambudju (1941–1993) was a leading Wadjiginy songman at Belyuen in the late 1980s and early 1990s whose songs display a rich variety of forms, diverse melodies and even mixes of languages (his own language, Batjamalh, as well as Emmi-Mendhe, the language of his adoptive family). Three of Lambudju’s father’s brothers were prominent Wadjiginy songmen who died before he was old enough to learn from them. Their songs were held in trust for him by the Emmiyangal singer Nym Mun.gi, who passed them on to Lambudju when he was old enough. Many of Lambudju’s songs concern his country to the north of the Daly River and in particular Rak Badjalarr (North Peron Island), the place to which people from Belyuen return after their death.
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
- Song 1: rak badjalarr
- Song 1: rak badjalarr
- Song 1: rak badjalarr
- Song 1: rak badjalarr
- Song 1: rak badjalarr
- Song 1: rak badjalarr
- Song 2: bandawarra-ngalgin
- Song 2: bandawarra-ngalgin
- Song 2: bandawarra-ngalgin
- Song 3: karra balhak malvak
- Song 4: karra-ve kanya-verver
- Song 4: karra-ve kanya-verver
- Song 5: benmele
- Song 6: winmedje
- Song 7: tjerrendet
- Song 8: tjendabalhatj
- Song 9: bangany nye-bindja-ng
- Song 10: walingave
- Song 11: djappana
- Song 11: djappana
- Song 11: djappana
- Song 11: djappana
- Song 12: karra balhak-ve
- Song 13: Lima rak-pe
- Song 14: mubagandi
- Song 14: mubagandi
- Song 14: mubagandi
- Song 15: bende ribene
- Song 16: limila karrawala
Booklet
Introduction
Lambudju’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
1 b&w table and 7 colour illustrations
Copyright: © 2016
ISBN: 9781743325285
Publication: 22 Nov 2016
Series: Indigenous Music, Language and Performing Arts