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The Djari Project – a collaboration between Netanela Mizrahi and Guwanbal Gurruwiwi

Our Kleenheat Community Grants program is supporting local groups, charities, and not-for-profit organisations doing great things in communities across the Northern Territory and regional Western Australia. 

The Northern Territory is one of Australia’s most culturally diverse places. A population of more than 100 nationalities, more than 140 social, cultural, and religious organisations, and 60,000 years of Indigenous culture.

The Djari Project_NT_Truly NT

One of our 2021 Northern Territory Cultural Diversity recipients, The Djari Project, is a unique collaboration between local musicians Netanela Mizrahi and Galpu song-man and musician, Guwanbal Gurriwiwi, who have been composing and performing music together since 2016.

Supporting our communities

Combining Indigenous language and song with Western Classical traditions

The Djari Ensemble features professional musicians from throughout the Northern Territory. They are joined by the Young Adelaide Voices’ Aurora Ensemble. The Djari Project

In 2019, as The Djari Project, they were commissioned by the Arafura Music Collective to write a multi-lingual choral work combining Yolngu Sacred Song, Middle Eastern and Western Classical music traditions, and Indigenous languages from both composers’ ancestry.

Mizrahi says the combination of choir, chamber ensemble, yidaki (didgeridoo) and Guwanbal’s voice creates a mesmerising and educational experience for audiences.

The songs and music draw on the traditional knowledge, language and songlines from the Galpu community of Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island), in East Arnhem Land, of which Guwanbal is an elder and teacher.

Much of the music created has contemporary themes of belonging and homeland.

“We hope that collaborations like ours present a model for working together, listening deeply to each other, and creating new stories together.”

The Djari Project in Katherine Gorge

In 2021, The Djari Project will be developing a performance in Katherine Gorge with local Katherine singers.

The performance will be open to the public, showcasing classical music in Indigenous languages and building personal connections between Indigenous, Middle Eastern and Classical musicians and audience members.

“The $1,000 Kleenheat Community Grant will assist in funding accommodation for the Young Adelaide Voices’ Ensemble for the event and is integral to the success of this outreach project.” Mizrahi said.

Experience the sounds of The Djari Ensemble and follow them on their Facebook page. You can see The Djari Project live in 2021 at the Darwin Festival and Desert Song FestivalThe Djari Project

Learn more about The Djari Project and the other Northern Territory-based grant recipients.

Learn more about our Kleenheat Community Grants.