Djinbinmarra (The Rain Maker)

$1,900.00

Jack Jnr Macale Loodgebuddunge

My connection to the Wandjina is through my grandfather. He was a Bunuba man and he also has connection through Ngarinyin and Unggumi, through his mother’s side of the family. Stories were often told to me when I was a young boy around the campfire. They would tell that these beings had a lot to do with storytelling, ceremonies, and how the land came to be.

My grandfather used to meet up with relatives on the Ngarayin side. They’d talk about these different Wandjina and how they came to be. One story I recall is that there was a great battle between the Wandjina tribes on the north coast of the Kimberley. This was a great battle of the Dreamtime, which happened in a place called Munja.

Some of the Wandjina had fled from the battle. Some went north to Kalumburu. Some went inland towards Fitzroy crossing. And the ones that stayed where the battle took place turned to stone. Today when you go there you see all these rocks on the beach and those rocks are the Wandjina that stood there during that big fight.

If you go there today your hair stands up when you see those boulders on the beach. Because its Djinbinmarra the rainmaker, a special ceremonial dance was used by the elders whenever there was a long drought. And by doing this, this would make the Wandjina spirit happy, and it would bring rain.