History

The didgeridoo, being a classic folk instrument, has a very vague and unspecific history. To our current knowledge it originated amongst indigenous Australian Aborigine. These people have inhabited the continent for 50 00 years. When they were discovered by Europeans, there were 1 million Aborigine across Australia as hunters and gatherers. These people formed 300 clans which each had their own language, land and beliefs. The didgeridoo is believed to originate from clans in Arnhem Land, which is located in the Northern Territory of Australia.  Although more recent research may suggest that the Aborigine of Australia developed the didgeridoo 40, 000 years ago (which would make it the world’s oldest musical instrument), however the oldest confirmed reliable records of its existence come from about 2000 years ago. These records were mainly cave and rock paintings done by the people of the Kakadu region of Northern Australia.

The Aborigine of Australia had many similar local names for the didgeridoo. What they called the indigenous instrument depended on the region. For Example; The Arrente people of the Alice Springs region would call it the Ilpirra and the Anindilyakwa people of the Groote Eylandt region would call it Angarrriralkpwina. It is debatable that the names given by the Djinang people (who called it the Yirtakki) or the Gupapuygu people (who called it the Yiraka) are the correct and/or first traditional names of the instrument. However, Didgeridoo is the common name used internationally as it was a western invented and name created by what the instrument sounds like and this name has been used since it was first recorded 1919.

The North-Eastern people of the Arnhem Land have maintained a tradition of crafting and teaching the didgeridoo. Although, nearly 100 years ago, during the course of the Black War in Tasmania, the didgeridoo was restricted to be distributed in Australia. (Possible researched reasons were that the indigenous culture interfered with colonisation) The further removal of original Aborigine from their land (which separated people and had a direct disadvantage to the development of their culture) made the instrument unknown.  However, later with colonisation, newly introduced infrastructure enabled the art of didgeridoos to spread throughout Australia.  

It was made famous by David Blanasi and Rolf Harris in the 1960’s. David was an amazing didgeridoo player and maker and travelled around the world, displaying his talent on the folk instrument. Western Civilisation has only become familiar with the didgeridoo in the last 30 years and has only played it traditionally for the last 10. Although most didgeridoo’s are no longer traditionally made, it has become a famous folk instrument around the world for its unique sound and culture. It is even known as the national musical instrument of Australia.