Recounting deep histories that influenced sacred ceremonial music and dance in Arnhem Land

Music and dance are important in Australian aboriginal culture. They are part of everyday life and mark major events such as celebrations or deaths. Join Ngulmiya Nundhirribala, revered leader of the Nundhirribala clan, as he recounts deep histories that influenced sacred ceremonial music and dance in Arnhem Land.

Songlines are the sacred paths taken by the ancestors across the desert during the Creation, also known as Dreamtime. By singing songs in an appropriate order, the indigenous Australians could navigate vast distances in the hostile desert. Songlines can be thought of as oral maps, made up of songs, chants and stories, which have been passed down over generations. Songlines thus preserve and transmit the culture, history and spiritual beliefs of the Australian aboriginals. It is believed that following the songlines helps the aboriginal people maintain their spiritual connection to the land.