Umbakumba | "Yirra-langwa Angalya Ayangkidarrba"

Umbakumba – Yirra-langwa Angalya Ayangkidarrba

This song was written, rapped and sung by Warnumamalya who live in Umbakumba, Northern Territory. The song focuses on the area upon which the community is situated. This area is called Mikbamurra and it is owned by the Warnumamalya clan called Warnindilyakwa. The English translation for the song title ‘Yirra-langwa Angalya Ayangkidarrba’ is ‘Our Island Home’. Warnumamalya still speak their ancestral language as their first language with English a second or third language. The language name is Anindilyakwa and this song is sung fully in Anindilyakwa.

There are 14 Warnumamalya clans who collectively own the archipelago of islands that includes Groote Eylandt on which Umbakumba is located. Many other clans also have traditional connections to this archipelago through ceremony and other traditional ties.

This song is one of three songs produced during a project initiated by the Anindilyakwa Land Council’s (ALC) Preservation of Culture department. In collaboration with Bush Fit Mob, Umbakumba School, Milyakburra School, Angurugu School and IHHP, Preservation of Culture ran a song-making project throughout October and November 2019. Three songs were composed in each of the communities of Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra. The focus of the project was engaging youth. The project married contemporary hip hop culture with the full range of expression that a first language permits. By using Anindilyakwa in this context, the singers accessed a form of expression uniquely their own, connecting their traditional identity with a global twenty-first century genre. Hip hop allows people from all over the world to connect with Anindilyakwa, for the first time hearing the true voice of young Warnumamalya. The experience has empowered the singers and has demonstrated the essential role that traditional language has to play in cultural wellbeing.

Some Anindilyakwa words that you see in the subtitles cannot be fully appreciated through their English translation but have additional layers of meaning that can only be expressed through the language of the culture from which they originate. Examples are:

Emeba – a traditional song that links places, people and spiritual beings that is owned by one or more affiliated clans.
Alukwanja – a traditional dance that connects particular clans with spiritual beings and stories that makes those beings manifest.
Amamalya – a colloquial term short for amamalya ayakwa which warnumamalya use to refer to their language, connoting the real or true speech.
Ngeniyerriya – an expression with various meanings depending on the context. In the case of this song it is used when Warnumamalya think back to their ancestors who have passed away.
Mikbamurra – the original name for the area upon which the community of Umbakumba is. The place is the traditional estate of the Warnindilyakwa clan and reference to it celebrates clan identity.
Dirrabada – the Anindilyakwa name for a type of fishing spear commonly used by Warnumamalya.
Anindilyakwa – the name of the ancestral language spoken by Warnumamalya.
Yirranindilyakwa – the same word as Warnindilyakwa but with a different prefix due to a change in gender and/or person. Warnindilyakwa is a name of one of the 14 Warnumamalya clans who own the archipelago of islands that includes Groote Eylandt.
Warningwadarrba - the name of one of the 14 Warnumamalya clans who own the archipelago of islands that includes Groote Eylandt.
Warningawerrikba - the name of one of the 14 Warnumamalya clans who own the archipelago of islands that includes Groote Eylandt.
Warniyerrma - the name of one of the 14 Warnumamalya clans who own the archipelago of islands that includes Groote Eylandt.
Warningangwurrkwurrikba - the name of one of the 14 Warnumamalya clans who own the archipelago of islands that includes Groote Eylandt.
Warningamulangwa - the name of one of the 14 Warnumamalya clans who own the archipelago of islands that includes Groote Eylandt.