Name and Country

Do you tell your friends and audience about the cultural background of the didj?

What do you tell people about the cultural background of the didj?

Anonymous

Never

I do not know enough about it to tell people

Anonymous from France

Mostly

I explain since how long it is played and where.Of course it is linked to the description of the aboriginal culture.

Alejandro Nan from Belgium

Only if asked

It is a traditional instrument from aboriginal cultures from northern australia and south america (don't forget the yakui!)

Alessandro Ardovini from Canada

Mostly

I tell them that it's a really ancient wind instrument of the aboriginals of Northern Australia.

Ana Ilijanic from Croatia/Hrvatska

Mostly

Didgeridoo is main instrument of Aborigines shamans and when the music start they can go in "dreaming time", the time when humans and energetic creatures lived together. After that time, energetics turn they selfs into the guardian of nature. Every single tree, or stone have his guardian, and when shaman signs into the didgeridoo he can see the energetics in dreaming time and the energetics now. The animal painted on the didgeridoo is the energetic that he sow in his vision.

Andrea Ballin from Italy

Mostly

Spiego che il background culturale del didgeridoo proviene dalle tribù degli aborigeri australiani

Anonymous

Always

It is a spiritual instrument. It is result of the natural occurrences (termites) that give it its shape and sound. Moreover, the sound represents the first sound made when the Earth was created.

Anssi from Finland

Sometimes

That Didj is the traditional woodwind instrument of the Australian Aboriginals. Didj is used as part of ceremonies and rituals. Probably the oldest instrument in the world, didj is very important part of Aboriginal culture.

Anthony Kubiak from USA

Always

That's it is am aboriginal instrument. That it has some sacred functions. How they are "made" How they are played

Anonymous

Sometimes

It is believed to be the oldest instrument and has survived in Northern Australia because of the Aboriginal people. There are many uses and it is played through circular breathing.

Anonymous from USA

Sometimes

I'm really not an expert. But talk a little about the aboriginal roots, and the didge being an integral part of ceremonial life, as it accompanies singers and dancers in religious rituals.

Anonymous

Always

Everything I know about it.

Brantley from USA

Sometimes

Anything I can remember

Brent from USA

Sometimes

At this time I am learning myself

Anonymous from USA

Sometimes

Not too much

Brittany Stresing from USA

Always

It is played by Aboriginals in Australia many times for ceremonies but also for recreation. It is often accompanied with clapsticks

Caelin from Australia

Always

That it was created by the Yolgnu people

Capi from USA

Rarely

I am still learning about that myself

Chad from USA

Mostly

I tell them the story of the man getting fire wood and blowing out the termites from the log, creating the stars and the first yidaki.

Charles from USA

Always

I used to live in the NT. The Aboriginals are near and dear to my heart.

Cj from USA

Rarely

The ceremonial role and connection to dreamtime stories

Cody from USA

Mostly

I tell them that its the national instrument of australia and it was made a long time ago by the aborigines

Daniel Allison from United Kingdom

Always

It was traditionally played as a ceremonial instrument, rather than a recreational one, and has been played for 5000 years.

Anonymous

Always

An ancient aboriginal instrument in use for thousands of year.

David Cross from USA

Always

It is an ancient Australian Aboriginal instrument with deep cultural and spiritual traditions dating back thousands of years.

David from USA

Sometimes

Its origin is Australia (not Africa) and it is one of the world's oldest musical instruments

Donat from Belgium

Only if asked

It is ritually played across Australia by aborigines. It is mostly a rhythmic instrument.

Drew from USA

Always

It is an ancient aboriginal instrument used for spiritual gatherings.

Eero Enqvist from Finland

Always

Aboriginal people's healing instrument [OUR COMMENT: we have edited this entry. To use only the first three letters of the word 'Aboriginal' is considered to be a serious insult, please do not do it, thanks]

Elisa from USA

Only if asked

It's an Australian instrument and from its natives.

Anonymous from Australia

Only if asked

I tell what I know and refer them to others more knowledgeable than me

Enoch from USA

Always

Aboriginal people of Australia make these. One of the oldest woodwinds made by a culture that is over 40,000 yrs old.

Erik from USA

Always

It has many cultural uses such as healing and ceremony. It takes a long time to make such an instrument and was traditionally made by the elders of the tribe.

Fabian Kuiper from Netherlands

Always

That it is an traditional aborigine instrument in the old days an holy instrument used to guide people to the dream realm.

Felicia from Sweden

Only if asked

That it is an Australian instrument and that it has been used for hundreds of years in different ceremonies and rites.

Fred from United Kingdom

Mostly

One of the oldest instruments known to man. Originally used in ceremonies, rituals, celebrations and story telling.The didgeridoo has many names e.g yidaki or yurlunggur but one things for sure, the name "didgeridoo" is purely a western invention probably because of the sound being heard by the early explorers of the northern territories!

Anonymous from Hungary

Mostly

Sometimes I'm talking about the legend of the didgeridoo origin > Bur Buk Boon story...and the language mechanism of the instrument

Gary from USA

Always

It's an Australian Aboriginal wind instrument and the oldest wind instrument in the world.

Hervé Vaudan from Switzerland

Mostly

Aboriginal people!

Anonymous

Rarely

Native instrument of northern australia from the aboriginal people.Created using termites.

Anonymous from Australia

Always

The didgeridoo sounds come from the animals e.g. brolga, kookaburra and a rainforest frog.

Jason from USA

Always

It was the first and is the oldest wind instrument in the world. It was developed by the Aboriginal people in what is now Australia. It's traditional name is Yidaki They were and are played for ceremonies, celebrations, meditation, healing, storytelling and just plain enjoyment.

Jason Wither from New Zealand

Always

It is a ceremonial instrument used since ancient aboriginal times in celebrations as well as funerals.

Jody from USA

Rarely

I referred my friends to this site so they could read about it themselves.

Joel from USA

Sometimes

That they are made in Australia and that they are the oldest form of woodwind instruments

Joel from USA

Always

That it was made by an Australian aboriginal using wood that was hollowed out by termites instead of a reamer.

John Fisher from USA

Rarely

It has mystical & healing properties and has a religious aspect to it.

John from USA

Always

I try to explain a bit about the history and plight of the aboriginal.

Jon from USA

Sometimes

I personally don't know a whole lot about it. Most people who ask have never heard of a didgeridoo, so I tell them what I know. It's a tribal instrument used by Australian Aboriginals.

Jonathan Turton from USA

Mostly

The didj is made by the natives to Australia which are aborigines. The didj is harvested after it has been bored out by termites. They have been used for hundreds of years for customs...etc.

Joseph Burke from USA

Sometimes

If they ask I tell them what I know, which unfortunately isn't much.

Ka Hermet from USA

Always

I'm happy tell anyone that it's an indigenous Australian creation, it gives me chance to let them know I've been there!

Katarina from Serbia

Never

Nothing

Kevin from USA

Never

I am not educated in the historical aspects of the instrument

Kyle from USA

Only if asked

I just know that its a native australian instrument.

Anonymous

Always

That it was an instrument created in Australia by it"s indigenous people the Aborigines and that it"s made naturally from a piece of wood hollowed out by termites

Anonymous from USA

Always

That is of aboriginal origin.

Maciek from Ireland

Only if asked

I tell them about culture,art in particular aboriginal painting which is for me incredible and inspiration for my art

Marcelo Sarra Nicolino from Brazil

Mostly

I tell them that is an australian instrument, discovered by the aborigines,

Mario from Italy

Sometimes

That it's a very old instrument, used to play when they are all together near a fire and that some play didj walking behind the people.

Martyn from United Kingdom

Sometimes

They were originally an aboriginal tribal instrument used in ceremonies.Made from eucalyptus trees hollowed out by termites eating the inside.

Anonymous from USA

Never

I don't know that much about the history

Matteo B from Italy

Sometimes

Someone is really interested. Especially those who study or work in social field.

Matthew from Australia

Mostly

Some of its different namesThat its traditionally a male instrumentHow they are madeThat not all tribes played them

Anonymous from Finland

Always

About how it is made and who has invented this wonderful instrument and something about how to get a sound of it.

Maurice from Australia

Only if asked

As an ritual instrument it originals in Northern regions of Australia. Its use and incorporation into today's music is appreciated and seem on a more regular basis than ever before. The Didgeridoo is strongly linked to the aboriginal songs and cultural stories.

Michael Pechous from USA

Sometimes

That a Didj is a sacred tool to connect with the ancestors, to become in harmony with the earth and to learn the secrets from the ethers.

Michele from USA

Always

That it is an aboriginal healing instrument that contains its own power. That the Australian aboriginals are the only tribal group that didn't develop a headed drum - using click sticks and didge as percussion.

Anonymous from Australia

Always

It is an aboriginal instrument, there are many inferior copies available

Mike from USA

Mostly

That they are made by the australian aborigines and that a real didj is a natural piece of equipment, made by termites.

Neil Wakeling from United Kingdom

Sometimes

I tell them the little I know about the Aboriginals making the didj; I usually will mention the status of Aboriginals in Australian society (!) because most people just don't know about this.

Nick Buckley from USA

Always

That it is one of the oldest instruments in the world, and that playing it gives me a great feeling of tradition and history.

Orlend from USA

Always

Aboriginal people were nomadic using what the land supplied. Original didj were hallowed out eucalyptus trees, done buy termites. It plays a huge part in many ceremonies, telling stories through not only music, but also through animal sounds and dance.

Ossi from Finland

Mostly

Some or all of the following:- Australia & Aboriginals- one of the oldest wind instruments- ritual/ceremonial use

Anonymous

Rarely

That it is from Australian Aboriginals.

Peter from United Kingdom

Mostly

The little I know, basically it is a traditional Australian instrument.

Peter Seidenberg from USA

Sometimes

I like to tell the mythological tale of the first didgeridoo

Peter Steyvers from Belgium

Always

A tell something about the dream time.

Peter from United Kingdom

Only if asked

Aboriginal- northern Australia

Reg from Australia

Mostly

My dealings with the Aboriginal people was in the Kalgoorlie. It was my understanding that the people of that region were not traditional didj players. I tell them there are many tribes through out Australia all with there own culture and language. The remote areas appear to have a stronger link to the cultural practices and language.

Richard Bird from USA

Always

I share with people that the didj is a musical instrument used by the indigenous peoples of Australia for the last 40,000 to 50,000 years. That along with things like the drums and animal horns - that the didj goes back to the very roots of the human connection to music.

Rik Van Luijn from Netherlands

Mostly

When people are interested I always tell them about where they are from and my own experiences a few years ago when I went on holiday to Australia, especially the story of the aboriginal guy who, when we came in to his shop to look at and try out some of his didjes spend the next hour and a half teaching me and my brother different techniques on the didgeridoo. that was the first time I succeeded to circular breathe while playing! and I had been trying for months before but up until that moment I couldn't do it. He got me even more excited about the didj and I have been playing it ever since. Both annoying and delighting people around me;)

Anonymous from USA

Mostly

That the didj is a very old instrument, at least 10,000 years old, that comes from Aboriginal people in Australia. It is one of the oldest kinds of instruments known.

Anonymous

Always

That it is an Aboriginal musical instrument

Roel from Belgium

Always

I tell them mostly about the aboriginal culture. The repression of this culture, the beauty of this culture,...

Rolando Rojas from Chile

Sometimes

That comes from aboriginal people from australia, and the sounds that didjeridu makes, imitate the animals of australia, like birds wild dogs, etcAlso is used as meditation

Ros from Australia

Only if asked

I don't know enough or feel confident enough to pass on what little I know.

Scott from Australia

Mostly

It is a male only Australian Aboriginal instrument that is used for many reasons

Scott from USA

Sometimes

Who makes them, how, what they're made from, how they are used in ceremonies and in healing

Anonymous

Only if asked

Instrument of the native inhabitants of australia

Shane Dye from USA

Never

I don't ever

Anonymous

Only if asked

I don't know much, just that certain Aboriginal people used the didge.

Anonymous from USA

Always

Its totally awesome and its an aboriginal instrument that's thousands of years old

Stephen from USA

Mostly

It is an Aboriginal instrument dating back to at least 1500 years (by cave drawings) played by the indigenous people of Northern Australia

Anonymous from New Zealand

Never

From australia

Anonymous

Rarely

That it was a way of communication between tribes

Tal from Israel

Always

I tell people that the didj is one of the oldest instruments around, that it belongs to the aboriginal people of Australia and the uses they have for it I also try to explain my special feeling when I play the energies and vibrations

Taylor Ballou from USA

Always

It is an aboriginal art and that the didj is made form the hallowing out of a eucalyptus tree. Also a small myth that says one day o man was building a fire and saw a log he was about to through on the fire had a tone of termites in it and thought why kill these termites. So the man sucked up the hollow stick and scooped up the termites into the tube. Pointed the end of the stick at the sky and when he blew as hard as he could the termites flew all the way to space and became the stars and the noise the tube made was the first sound of a didj.

Thom from USA

Always

Possibly the oldest wind instrument in the world. Developed by the natives of Australia.

Anonymous

Sometimes

I tell them stories from the live in bush

Todd from USA

Rarely

I tell them it may be the oldest instrument played by man. I tell them it's an Australian aboriginal instrument too.

Tom from USA

Only if asked

Typically a male instrument made from termite hollowed eucalyptus branch it is the first sound giving birth to creation

Tonia from USA

Only if asked

No one has ever asked me but if they did I would tell them I don't really know and would refer them to your site.

Anonymous from USA

Always

That's it's an aboriginal instrument and a deep connection to spirit.

Anonymous

Never

It has never come up

Willy Brandt from Belgium

Mostly

Its a great and deep culture with respect to the nature and the human condition

Anonymous from USA

Only if asked

It was used ceremonially by aboriginal australians as a means for musical and spiritual healing, meditation, and celebration