Yidumduma Bill Harney and Paul Taylor
BIOGRAPHY
Performance Formats:
Yidumduma Bill Harney & Paul Taylor
A tour with Yidumduma Bill Harney is planned for late January and February, 2011, in the western United States. Please check with Loyd Artists, info@loydartists.com, for dates and check Paul Taylor's page at this site for the stories and music of Australia and the work of the Wardaman Dreaming Project, Paul Taylor.
Enjoy this new video on Australia Broadcasting's Message Stick program featuring Yidumduma Bill Harney talking about Aboriginal star wisdom:Message Stick broadcast
Yidumduma Bill Harney, Elder and Senior Custodian of the Wardaman people of the North Territory of Australia and Australian storyteller and musician Paul Taylor will tour -together performing and teaching the cultural richness of Aboriginal Australia. Their multi-media performances feature stories, music and images from the Wardaman people. Audiences will have a rare opportunity to learn these stories and music from one of the last living Elders of the Aboriginal people. It is Yidumduma's desire that as many as possible hear about his people. Performances will be available for evening concerts as well as community outreach.
Yidumduma was raised and educated in the traditional ceremonies of his ancient people by Jumorji, a senior lawman of the Wardaman and Yidumduma's Aboriginal father. He is one of the few Elders remaining who grew up in the full ceremonial tradition of his people.From Jumorji, Yidumduma takes his country and his heritage, for the Wardaman practice a patralinial hierarchy. In the law of his people and their closely affiliated tribal neighbors, he is the equivalent of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. Since 1976, Yidumduma has been responsible for the return of 5,000 square kilometres of traditional lands to his people.
In addition to his position as Custodian for his people and their lands, Yidumduma is widely regarded as a Master storyteller or songman of his people. As an artist in his own right, Yidumduma has paintings all over the globe and in the National Gallery of Australia, the Federal Parliament and the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. He is a co-author of two books: Born Under the Paperbark Tree (1996) and Dark Sparklers, a Wardaman interpretation of the cosmos (2003). He gathers and processes the traditional didjeridu timber, makes, paints and performs with this haunting instrument.
Australian storyteller, musician and theater artist Paul Taylor has been a student of Yidumduma since 1988. Paul has been honored with the Wardaman name Jalala. Paul lives in the US for nine months of the year spending the remainder of the year in Australia. Paul tours the US presenting concerts and workshops on the European and Aboriginal cultures in Australia.
Call Loyd Artists, 800-476-6240, for further details. There will be a limited number of dates for this tour.
