RECORDING MARRA LANGUAGE SONGS
The Song Peoples team recently visited Numbulwar community to work with and record Marra language songs. A big thanks to Robert Daylight and his staff who assisted our team to record 14 songs in Marra.
The songs include traditional Marra history and knowledge of their country at Wuyagiba, all composed by Fannie Numamurdirdi. The songs weave local knowledge of biodiversity, saltwater tidal patterns, journeys travelled across Marra country and hunting for bush tucker.
All the singers are in their 80s and the songs recorded are evidence of continuing connections to Marra country.
Fannie Numamuridi said, ‘When I sing my songs I remember what our ancestors taught us. It makes me really happy I am passing that knowledge on to kids and younger generations.’
Cherry Daniels worked tirelessly interpreting the Marra songs and explained, ‘Our culture and law doesn’t change, it’s there all the time, the song comes first…it’s in everything, the country and the animals. If we lose these songs and ceremonies we won’t have an identity. Singing is really important. Out of those songs comes our history.’
