YOUR EXPERIENCE PROVIDER
Enjoy a live and interactive virtual cultural experience with Manuel Pamkal at Top Didj & Art Gallery in Katherine, Northern Territory.
A snapshot of Top End Aboriginal culture, Top Didj’s virtual experience is the perfect introduction to Aboriginal culture exploring music, art, traditional artefacts and living life in the bush in the traditional way.
Manuel is passionate about keeping culture alive and sharing it with everyone. During the experience you will listen to a live didgeridoo performance and hear Manuel’s stories of growing up in the bush. You will be shown the special reed brush called a jalk that is used to paint the line paintings known as rarrk or crosshatch.
Manuel will demonstrate how to light a fire using two sticks and how to throw a spear using a woomera. There will also be multiple opportunities to interact with Manuel and ask questions. This live experience is perfect for the whole family or anyone interested in learning more about Aboriginal culture.
Manuel was born on 5th July 1963, well that is what his driver's license states as they needed a date. Because Manuel has no official record of his date of birth his passport reads 00/00/1966. Manuel does know the area he was born being King River southeast of Katherine. This is where he spent most of his early childhood living a traditional lifestyle.
When Manuel turned 13 he and his family moved to Eva Valley for a year, then they relocated to Bamyili (Barunga), where they settled and Manuel attended school for just only one day. The reason being he was told by his cousin that if he wanted to stay at school he had to speak English. Manuel felt shame as he could not speak any English so he went bush and never attended school again.
When he was 15, his father taught him the traditional way to do bark painting, teaching him how to harvest and burn the stringy bark, how to straighten it with cross sticks and how to make it ready for painting. He also taught him how to find and use traditional pigments from the bush; white clay (bim); red oxide (marnarr); yellow ochre (gilidih), and black charcoal (jardij). Manuel’s father also used to tell the dreamtime stories about what happened a long time ago when all the animals were human.
Manuel brings his extensive traditional knowledge of culture, art and music into this virtual experience. He will:
This is a virtual experience. Duration: 1 hour
Click on the Book Now button to see available dates. Guests will tune into the live, virtual experience using Zoom, at the booked time.
The Zoom meeting details, link and password will be provided via email and calendar invitation prior to the virtual experience
The comfort of your own home.