History of the didgeridoo, origin and making
Where does the didgeridoo come from? Its origin among Aboriginal Australians, the difference between yidaki, mago and contemporary didgeridoo, and how it is made.
It all begins in the Australian bush
Among Aboriginal people, the didgeridoo player accompanies the singer and the dancer during the various ceremonies (initiation, funerals…). He then tells a story, the story of which he is the keeper. He reveals it only during ceremonies, in the presence of initiated people.
In this way, every Aboriginal person is responsible for their story, handed down by the elders, which they must pass on to the next generation. Together, these stories form what they call the Dreamtime, their mythology.
Traditional didgeridoo
The one played by Aboriginal people of northern Australia.
Contemporary didgeridoo
The one played by Western players.
Where does the word “didgeridoo” come from?
The word “didgeridoo” was invented by white people when they discovered the instrument: the settlers heard a strange sound, which they transcribed with this word.
Aboriginal people have several names for it, which vary according to where it is played. Two names are often mentioned:
The yidaki
Yirrkala region.
The mago
Maningrida region.
Both are made using traditional methods by an experienced Aboriginal maker from Arnhem Land, and are usually painted with the clan’s designs.
On the ancestral trail of the didgeridoo
Yidaki or didgeridoo: what is the difference?
What often makes the difference between a yidaki and a didgeridoo is the shape of the air column. The inside of a yidaki is very often narrower than that of a didgeridoo and worked very little. The result is a raw, compressed sound, hence a very responsive instrument with hoots that are easy to reach.
How is a didgeridoo born?
- Termites hollow out the wood
In northern Australia, termites naturally hollow out the heart of eucalyptus trunks.
- The trunk is chosen and cleaned
The maker finds a hollow tree, cuts it, removes the bark and cleans the inside.
- The mouthpiece and the decoration
The mouthpiece is adjusted, often with beeswax, then the instrument is painted or left natural.
The didgeridoo in one picture
A document that brings together a great deal of information. Source: David Hudson.
Going further
I recorded a series of ten podcasts about the culture of Aboriginal Australians and the traditional didgeridoo (in French).