iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Because of the recent passing away of a senior Manggalili man, the word yidaki, yirdaki, yidaki and similar sounding words are taboo and not supposed to be used like yiki or key. New word for yidaki is mandapul.

Wow... will the Balanda didjers respect that taboo ? Do they have to ?

RIP to the late senior Manggalili man... was his name "yid*ki" or something ?

I don't know wawa i just heard the news from Gove, whether people wish to respect it or not is up to them, depends on context.

Oh... I'm thinking about your Comic now, I can't say, maybe best to ask the Shire people, I think that it is ok because it is in print form, you could also insert a appendum into each comic noting the change but it could be a lot of work.

About the man names, it was Y*k*k* Maymuru, i, a, i in that order.

G

I should make a stamp saying "due to a recent passing away, we cannot use the word yid*ki anymore : it has become taboo. The new word being "Mandapul"", and stamp it in every book

Though who's really sure about how this taboo will be respected or not even in Yolngu world ?
Crafting and selling Yid*kis has become a job for some, and many of the buyers might come from internet where the #1 keyword would be "yid*ki".
Djalu's new website also has this word in it...
Balanda's minds may not be as flexible as Yolngu's... we're not used to replace words like this, and internet will also keep trace of all the "yid*ki" researches.
... Time will tell ...

Hi Guan

Is this a permanent change or will the taboo restriction pass in time as it does when quoting other deceased persons names? Also where did the new name come from/who decides on the new name?

Thanks Paul

Hi Paul,

Think of it as permanent but it might change again in the future. The news is being passed around among families both white and black in eastern Arnhem Land in Gove and that's where the news came from as Mr Maymuru lived there, he was a big name, just google him and you'll see what he has been involved in. I don't know who came up with mandapul but its been used quite a bit by others before, I hear it occasionally among Yolngu, its just another word for didgeridoo.

G

Wow tricky one since my artist name is MT-Y*d*K*.... And I have been spreading the specific word arround for queit a bit....
I can of course change the websites where I refer to the Yolngu didgeridoo... But for the rest...
What would you advice?
Michiel

MT-Mandapul doesn't have the same ring to it.

I would continue to use your artist name. Afterall, you do live in Europe. Just my thoughts.

Kyle