Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) warmly invites you to explore our daily series of Cultural Performances as part of the 2025 Public Program, as dance groups from across the country share their traditions. Gather round the sandpit for cultural performances from Dancers from Munupi Arts & Crafts Association, and Jilamara Arts & Crafts Association!
Two Art Centres from the Tiwi Islands, Munupi Arts and Crafts Association from Pirlangimpi and Jilamara Arts and Crafts Association from Milikapiti, unite to perform the vibrant 'Yoi' (Ceremonial Dancing), showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Melville Island's Tiwi community.
Dancing or yoi is a part of everyday life on the Tiwi islands. Tiwi inherit their totemic dance from their mother, e.g. magpie goose or scaly mullet. Dancing plays an important role in ceremonial events, for example, during the Pukumani ceremony the dances performed reflect the relationship to the deceased.
Narrative dances are performed and can depict everyday life or historical events. The bombing of Darwin has been portrayed through song and dance as have many other significant events. Singing always accompanies dancing and new songs are continually being created.
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Meet the Dancers:
Munupi Arts and Crafts Association is located along Melville Islands North-Western coastline at Pirlangimpi (also known as Garden Point) and is the most recently formed Art Centre on the Tiwi Islands. A wholly Indigenous owned and governed organisation, Munupi Arts is a vibrant and creative social enterprise.
Jilamara Arts is located in the community of Milikapiti on Wulirankuwu Country, Tiwi Islands. Jilamara artists are known for producing contemporary works based on ceremonial body painting designs, clan totems and Tiwi creation stories. The palette of red, yellow, white and black is made exclusively from ochre pigments collected on Country around Melville Island.
Head to their website to learn more:
https://munupiart.com/pages/about-us and
https://jilamara.com/
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Brought to you by Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, the Public Program is proudly supported by the Northern Territory Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company, Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, Wesfarmers, premium media partner Peppermint Magazine, and ticketing partner Darwin Fringe Festival.
Take a look at what else is on here:
https://daaf.com.au/daaf-2025/
You may also like the following events from Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair:
Also check out other
Arts events in Darwin,
Festivals in Darwin,
Fine Arts events in Darwin.
