The Warnindilyakwa of the Groote Archipelago, Australia, have long passed down their stories, traditions and artistry through generations. Now, their rich cultural heritage is celebrated in our new permanent display, Anindilyakwa Arts: Stories from our Country – Alawudawarra yirri-langwa-langwa angalya.
The exhibition takes centre stage in our Belonging Gallery and showcases contemporary Anindilyakwa arts practice. You will see traditional arts that have been passed through generations, like bush dye, alongside vibrantly coloured Maminjirrada (hook spears) and awulmarra (boomerang) when the artists have taken the knowledge passed down from Elders and made them in their own style. You will also meet Yilkwa (Monster Fish), fabulous aquatic characters woven from salvaged materials like ghost net, and Dadikwakwa-kwa, the individual and unique doll shells that were gifted by the Warnindilyakwa.
The Warnindilyakwa, or Warnumamalya (true people) are the Traditional Owners of the Groote archipelago in the Gulf of Carpentaria off the north coast of Australia. Anindilyakwa Arts is a thriving Warnamamalya-led hub of creativity. Anindilyakwa artists explore creative avenues through ‘old and new ways’, drawing on deep knowledge of traditional practice, and experimenting with contemporary art disciplines. The artists strongly believe that their creative practices are key to addressing past breaks in cultural transmission and building a strong future.
Over several years, Warnindilyakwa and Manchester Museum have worked together on the Return of Cultural Heritage to their Country. The relationship continues through this display, designed by and written with Anindilyakwa artists and Elders, reflecting Anindilyakwa belonging.
Anindilyakwa Arts: Stories from our Country is open now.
Manchester Museum, Belonging Gallery, Floor 1.
Dadikwakwa-kwa (doll shells) are a unique practice by the Anindilyakwa women. Keepers of spirits and ancestors, the women who create and care for Dadikwakwa-kwa consider them to be alive.
Traditionally used to teach literacy, numeracy, kinship systems and women’s health, Dadikwakwa-kwa may also guide you through your dreams, answering your questions and giving advice. They hold sacred knowledge and stories safe for future generations.
New ways of caring for objects
The Dadikwakwa-kwa are toys. They were made to be used, and this has shaped the way that we look after them. Our commitment to caring for the Dadikwakwa-kwa means that we talk to them, and that they will come out to play at least once every year!
Making your own toys
We are Dadikwakwa-kwa, or doll shells. We are made from special shells that can only be found at Four Mile Beach. We are made by mothers and grandparents for their little girls, who look after us as they grow up. Each doll shell is special and helps to look after the girl it is given to. Doll shells love to hear stories, so make sure you speak to us when you visit!
“Through our art we are confident as we carry what we were taught by our ancestors. Our art holds stories and information of our land and songlines. Here we can teach the young ones through our art so they can keep our culture strong into the future.”
– Danjibana Noeleen Lalara – Lead Art and Culture Officer, senior artist and community leader
“The blue is ocean, makarda, it represents the sea where we come from, we live seaside. The colours red, yellow, black represent that we are aboriginal. The grey is for our ancestors, when we get old we get grey hair, the way we make things is our ancestors’ knowledge. My grandfather told my father and my father told me, my painting is my new idea using the paint to tell my story. Grey pays tribute to the ancestors and passing knowledge from generation to generation.”
– Gabriel Herbert, Anindilyakwa artist
“When we bush dye we feel our ancestors whispering and talking and singing along the wind.”
– Maicie Lalara, Artist, Art and Culture Officer and Emerging Community Leader
Return of Cultural Heritage
In September 2022, teams from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Return of Cultural Heritage project and Manchester Museum visited Groote Eylandt to hold consultations towards the unconditional return of 174 items from Manchester Museum. Included in this collection were more than sixty Dadikwakwa-kwa (doll shells) that had been collected in the 1950s.
Despite Dadikwakwa-kwa not having been created on Groote Eylandt for more than fifty years, photographs of the old doll shells immediately captured the attention of the female artists at Anindilyakwa Arts. By December 2022, they had undertaken a Dadikwakwa-kwa revitalisation project. This involved visiting remote sites around Groote Eylandt to collect materials in the traditional ways and community Elders and contemporary artists working together to remember and re-create.
New Ways
The Dadikwakwa-kwa revitalisation project brought back a practice that hadn’t taken place in over 50 years. This has opened up meaningful discussions on the importance of teaching young people traditional practices and how traditional cultural items can influence art practices today. The project has also drawn attention to the importance of capturing women’s cultural practices, which historically have not been well recorded. This set of Dadikwakwa-kwa was gifted to Manchester Museum so that the story can continue and be retold this time by the Anindilyakwa on their own terms.
The success of the women’s work with Dadikwakwa-kwa has inspired the men to revitalise traditional practices such as maminjirrada (hook spears) and other ceremonial weapons seldom made since weapons were banned by missionaries on Groote Eylandt in the 1960s.
Anindilyakwa artists featured in the exhibition:
Photography: