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Songs of the Western Australian Desert Aborigines

Various Artists
Songs of the Western Australian Desert Aborigines
*Content Advisory: At least half of this album consists of songs that, according to Jane Anderson of the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), are meant only for the ears of those participating in specific initiation ceremonies. As such, Smithsonian Folkways has restricted access to them by making them unavailable for sale and online streaming. They are only accessible on a case-by-case basis by inquiring with the Rinzler Archives. We now use the online website for this recording as historical record. We hope this posting can teach about earlier sound recording practices, and that we can use this knowledge to build more ethical practices of recording and listening to sound.
These songs are from Ngaatjatjarra people, who live in Western Australian desert land, and who are one dialect group of Pitjantjajara (a language). The songs are for various initiation rites, like bloodletting and circumcision, where access is restricted based on gender. Some of these rites involve “harsh penalties” should someone of the “opposite sex” access them (Reddy and Sonneborn 2013 quoted). Examples of songs from gender-restricted rites are the Dingo and Kangaroo cycles.
For our policy on controversial recordings, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Track Listing

101
Kangaroo Cycle Songs
Ngaatjatjarra men
06:32  
102
Kangaroo Cycle Dance Songs
Ngaatjatjarra men
01:03  
103
Kangaroo Cycle Bloodletting Song
Ngaatjatjarra men
00:54  
104
Kangaroo and Dingo Songs
Ngaatjatjarra men
01:06  
105
Women's Sacred Songs (1)
Ngaatjatjarra women
04:53  
106
Wati Kutjara
Ngaatjatjarra women
01:44  
107
Rain Making Songs
Ngaatjatjarra men and children
01:39  
108
Tingari Cycle Songs
Young Ngaatjatjarra men
06:31  
201
Tingari Cycle Songs for Novices
Young Ngaatjatjarra men
02:30  
202
Women's Grievance Songs
Mankatji, a Nyatunyatjara woman
04:41  
203
Women's Sacred Songs (2)
Aboriginal women from Warburton Ranges
07:37  
204
Kangaroo Cycle Song for Dancing
Ngaatjatjarra men
00:42  
205
Kangaroo Cycle Song for Novices
Ngaatjatjarra men
06:12  
206
Kangaroo Cycle Dance Song (Mimicry)
Ngaatjatjarra men
03:07