Uploaded May 2011 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The Red Flag Dancers are from the Numbulwar community in south-east Arnhem Land, here performing at Federation Square in Melbourne city. Their songs are intimately linked to the south-east Asians known as the 'Macassans' who annually visited the shores of northern Australia in search of trepang. The journey of the Macassans in their ships are sung about as are the seasonal winds that carried them away and brought them back. Other song subjects include flags, alcohol, card playing/gambling, tobacco, and telescopes. All these things are Yirritja. The Red Flag is shared by several clans such as the Nundhirribala, Dhalwangu, Ganalbingu, among others.
Grant Nundhirribala is the singer during this performance, accompanied by 23 year old Don Wurralkbanganya on didgeridoo.
The didgeridoo is one made by Datjirri Wunungmurra, I had a chance to play this stick and its a nice one, natural bore, wide flare and steeply tapered, quite high-sounding yet with an enormous amount of depth, overtones a little difficult for me but that's because I'm out of practice.
The Red Flag Dancers are from the Numbulwar community in south-east Arnhem Land, here performing at Federation Square in Melbourne city. Their songs are intimately linked to the south-east Asians known as the 'Macassans' who annually visited the shores of northern Australia in search of trepang. The journey of the Macassans in their ships are sung about as are the seasonal winds that carried them away and brought them back. Other song subjects include flags, alcohol, card playing/gambling, tobacco, and telescopes. All these things are Yirritja. The Red Flag is shared by several clans such as the Nundhirribala, Dhalwangu, Ganalbingu, among others.
Grant Nundhirribala is the singer during this performance, accompanied by 23 year old Don Wurralkbanganya on didgeridoo.
The didgeridoo is one made by Datjirri Wunungmurra, I had a chance to play this stick and its a nice one, natural bore, wide flare and steeply tapered, quite high-sounding yet with an enormous amount of depth, overtones a little difficult for me but that's because I'm out of practice.
