Yuupurnju

Yuupurnju: A Warlpiri song cycle documents a ceremonial song cycle situated within the traditional kurdiji “shield” ceremony, as sung by Warlpiri Elder Henry Cooke Anderson Jakamarra at Lajamanu, Northern Territory, in 2013.

The song cycle relates to a women’s Jukurrpa Dreaming narrative, and tells the story of a group of ancestral women on a journey across the country. Jakamarra performed the songs (recorded by Carmel O’Shannessy) to make them available to the Warlpiri community and the wider public.

Yuupurnju: A Warlpiri song cycle includes:

• the words of the songs in Warlpiri
• interpretation in English as given by the singer, Jakamarra, and Warlpiri Elders Jerry Patrick Jangala OAM, Wanta Steven Patrick Pawu-Kurlpurlurnu Jampijinpa and Steven Dixon Japanangka
• musical notation by musicologist Myfany Turpin
• photographs and illustrations for each song
• a foreword by two senior custodians, Jerry Patrick Jangala OAM and Wanta Jampijinpa.

There are 38 recordings available to be listened to here: https://open.sydneyuniversitypress.com.au/yuupurnju.html