“What is the point of making music if we are not using it to move people?” the cellist asks.
I have always been fascinated by the idea of the Aboriginal “Walkabout.” To venture alone into the harsh wilderness as a young boy, for up to several months, seems like a daunting, almost unimaginable, notion. Even more so when you take into account the lack of any kind of travel aid – no compass or radio or travel guide. Imagine being stranded for six months in the outback. As a teenager! I am 26 years old and the idea of a five-day solo hike in the Aspen mountains (with a clear trail, a map, and even signs every few miles) scares me!
For indigenous Australians, however, the walkabout is more than just a physical challenge; it is a traditional rite of passage that symbolises one’s transition into adulthood. As such, it is an important period of growth and self-discovery, a sacred time during which one learns to form an inextricable relationship with nature and the surrounding landscapes.
Richard Narroway at Todd Mall in Alice Springs. Photos supplied.
In 2015...
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