WARNING

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are warned that this section contains images and voice of the late Bullinj M. Hall, the Black Hawk. Bullinj was the Vice President and a founding member of Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation, a songman, performer and artist. Together with Frankie Tango Lane, Bullinj made and painted many of the didjeridus in the Centre. This site is dedicated to the memory of the Black Hawk.

HOW THE DIDJ IS MADE

Didjs from Ghunmarn Culture Centre are all hand cut from the woolybutt tree and naturally termite eaten. Some cheaper dij’s can be drilled out by machine. If you want to be sure yours is termite eaten look inside, if it is a bit rough the termites have been at work, smooth interiors are a sign of drilling. We call the dij a ‘bambu’, or Mago or Yidaki, there are many names in many different Aboriginal languages.

Our artists have to travel considerable distances on foot to find the just right woolybutt tree. When they find it they cut it and carry the ‘blanks’ back to camp. There each is worked, shaped, sanded and tuned. Some of the blanks may have sapwood or gum rings which need to be cut out to ensure the instrument remains sound.

All our instruments are tuned to one of the following pitches: high pitch D, low pitch D, F, C or G. The longer the dij the lower the pitch, a shorter dij will give you a higher sound. When they cut the dij in the bush the makers have a way of knowing roughly how long it should be for different pitches. Frankie says one that comes up to his shoulder is a lower D. Back at the camp they cut some off the blank until it has just the pitch they want.

Once decorated, the artwork is a very valuable part of your new dij. Our artists use traditional designs and can also make specific designs to order. During use the artwork can become scuffed or damaged, so we recommend when you get your new instrument home you give it a coat of varnish to protect the designs.