Item X 70200 Ulpere | Didjeridu. Western Arrernte. Hermannsburg, Desert East, Northern Territory, Australia

Summary

This instrument is called an Ulpere (an Arrernte word meaning'hollow branch'). Arrernte man Walter Smith once claimed that the Ulpere was used to announce the opening of a well-known dance that was shared between Aboriginal groups in Central Australia, theTjitjingalla corroboree. The missionary and ethnographer Carl Strehlow, who lived amongst the Western Arrernte between 1984 and 1922 described a similar trumpet (called a Karakara) which was decorated with a red painted strawflower and used in a public corroboree performances. Strehlow says it was 'used like a trumpet' and made a hollow, deep sound.

Local Name

Ulpere

Physical Description

Short wind instrument (didjeridu) decorated with feathers.