The Aboriginal Culture of Yamba NSW

When people talk of Aboriginals Australia is among the countries that come to mind first. The history of the country can be traced back thousands of years to these early people who still have strong roots in most parts of it. As the original inhabitants of the continent and nearby islands, there are numerous traditions that are still prevalent in the present generation. It is said that these inhabitants migrated from India around 50 centuries ago. That, in layman’s tongue is 50,000 years ago.

Although the other Australian regions like Queensland and Western Australia have significant numbers of Aboriginals, it is New South Wales state that carries the largest share with over 150,000 members today. Quite a good chunk of them are in Yamba area that boasts of a rich history. The earliest aboriginals provided a diverse mixture of languages, cultures and traditions most of which have been washed down with time and the arrival of Europeans in the country.

The two original groups that inhabited Yamba thousand of years ago were the Bundjalung and the Yaegl who still have generations living today. The present members of those two groups are the custodians of Yamba coastal regions including Maclean and Iluka. Their forefathers, who spoke Yaygirr language, used to inhabit the area around the mouth of Clarence River. Owing to discoveries made years later, it was found that these people had a developed material culture.

Music played an important part in these early Yamba inhabitants and they had instruments to back the tunes. A popular instrument at the time was the Didjeridu which is also known as Yidaki. It closely resembles bamboo trumpets and other bronze horns that were used in other areas. A gum leaf was also used to give accompaniments during dances. The leaf, from a tree in the Eucalyptus family, was held against the lips and it gave out sounds that mimicked those of birds.

Another instrument was the Bull Roarer. This was a flat piece of wood with a hole on one end. A string was passed through and it was swung rapidly to make booming noises. These traditional people also called it ‘voice of God’. Although it has been known to have been used in ancient Egypt and other countries, these primitives treated ‘the voice of God’ as a sacred instrument and held it with the highest degree of reverence.

One will also learn that these Aborigines had a deep regard for magic. They had this belief that all illnesses and misfortunes such as accidents were caused by spirits. If a person fell from a tree and died, the local magician was summoned to help nail the culprit.

Of course, if you are a tourist, you have got pick the ideal accommodation option to make sure that you are able to check out these amazing aboriginal attractions. One of the best accommodation Yamba NSWoptions would be the Yamba Sun Motel. A fabulous view from every window plus access to some of the most amazing attractions of the area, this is definitely the right place to stay when you are in Yamba.


Author: Todd Johnson
Email: Todd@australianwebsitedevelopment.com.au
Mobile: 0449 041 815