Djakapurra Munyarryun is a respected Yolngu Songman from Dhalinybuy in North East Arnhem Land. He has featured in, and helped create, many of Bangarra’s productions as a Dancer, Cultural Consultant and Teacher, Songman and Yidaki Player; Ngathu is his first choreographic work for the company.

Ngathu is inspired by the ngathu (cycad) nut, which only appears for a fleeting moment before the wet season.

This production features the First Nations language Yolngu Matha (Yirritja) (North East Arnhem Land).

Sections of Ngathu

Two Yapas - Two Sisters wake and prepare for the harvest journey
Wurrumthun Ngarra - Travelling to the harvest
Ngathu Warratthun - Picking and sorting the cycad nut
Warratthun Contemporary
Warratthun Ngarra - Travelling and gathering
Mel'wutthun - Hitting and preparing the cycad nut
Mel'wutthun Contemporary
Warratthun Ngarra - Travelling
Lurrpu - The white cockatoo signals
Ngurrtja - The sacred bark protects the cycad nut over the hot coals
Warratthun Ngarra - Travelling fast
Wata - The wind is blowing
Two Yapas - The two sisters carry the knowledge of the cycad nut with them through the coming seasons and the next generations

Duration: 25 minutes

Ngathu, premiered in 2017 as part of the triple bill ONES COUNTRY - the spine of our stories, which included Ngathu, Place, and Whistler.