Kardajala Kirridarra ('Sandhill Women' - named after the mysterious bush woman from the sandhills behind the community of Marlinja) is a family group consisting of Eleanor ‘Nalyiri' Dixon (Rayella, Desert Divas), a Mudburra woman from Marlinja, Janey ‘Namija’ Dixon, MC Kayla Jackson, also a Mudburra woman from Kulumindini community and Beatrice ‘Nalyiri’ Lewis, a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and electronic producer who splits her time between Melbourne and the Central desert of Australia.
Dixon says that the idea to form the group came about when she first sang Abala Barlawa. "When I first sung Abala Barlawa ... the song came out of country. So both me and Beatrice knew from then that that very sound of country needed to be heard."
With the help of the Barkly Regional Council’s National award-winning ‘’ Multimedia program, the two followed that feeling and formed a band to continue to create songs that empower women, continue language and bring to life the sounds of the land. The music, which has a lush electronic feel and features sounds such as seed pods, thunders storms and clap sticks made by Eleanor’s father, was made in a hall in the back of Marlinja during the long hot days of summer, then mixed and mastered in Melbourne by aka. MonkeyMarc.
Dixon describes the dynamic of the group as being clear that there is a strong bond and shared values. "The most important thing about me is that I carry myself as a spiritual being and not a human being, so me being me is just that. I love being with these ladies. The thing I love the most about being together is having lalija (tea), listening to music and just laughing and yarning. Our energies put together is the most beautiful thing to be around I reckon."
The most important thing about me is that I carry myself as a spiritual being and not a human being so me being me is just that.
Kardajala Kirridarra's debut album combines sounds of the land, language and an empowring message for women Source: Supplied
[spotify-album album="4510vYj5EqU7MqgueKlqS7"]
The group have already picked up two MusicNT 'Song of the Year Award' nominations, are set to showcase at this year's BigSound music conference, the biggest of it's kind in the Southern hemisphere and are in rotation on triple j.
Learn more about the message of Kardajala Kirridarra through their beautiful lyrics and inspiration behind each track:
Abala Barlawa (Everything was at Peace)
This song is about feeling sad for the country you are from because of the destruction and change that was
brought about by the arrival of white man.
Mungarrangarnadarra bali
Kayina mujumujungka
Yulu ngurrangka
Barrakurrungka yulu
Abala barlawa
Karribadarra bali birrkamarna
Nyamba nyamba darra
Nginyangka ngurra
Wangi wangingka
Abala barlawa
Verse 1:
Marndiyarla ngainya ngurra
Wangi kudij kayini
Karri bali bali wangi
Yuwarna ngainya ngurra
Kudij kayini
Pre Chorus:
Abala Baralha kayina
Chorus:
Marndiyarla/ngainya ngurra
Verse 2:
Abala barlawa kayina
Ngainya ngurra barngarla
Kudij kayini muju barlawa
Karri muju ngurrangka
Ngainya ngurra
Chorus:
Marndiyarla/ngainya ngurra
Marndiyarla/ngainya ngurrangka
Two Worlds Collide
This is a story of a young Indigenous women standing in between her traditional world and the modern world, trying to work out where she belongs.
In the beginning
She is just a girl
She is not yet a woman of this world
Trying to understand
Her place on this land
Finding her path by the
Footprints in the sand
Ancient time in a new paradigm x 4
The sand shifts as two worlds collide x 4
In the beginning
Our world was at peace
Now there is two worlds
And she walks in between
A shield that can’t be seen
Divides humanity
Protecting each other
From the fear they believe
Ancient time in a new paradigm x 4
The sand shifts as two worlds collide x 4
Two worlds collide x 8
Warmala (Young Girl ’s song)
The story of a young girl coming of age and how she is soon to become a women.
Verse 1:
Nginya-ma yurrwa
Barna marnini
Warmala-darra
Abala bali
Karri kirri wanya
Nyunduma warmala
Lankaj karri yurrawarra
Mungarrangka yurrawara
Kardibangka nginyi yurrawarra
Chorus:
Barnangku marnini
Nyundu warmaladarra
Nyamba ban marnini
Ngayu nyundu-ma
Barnangku marru
Ban wanya kirri karri
Marndaj barna lankaj
Kayini nganyina yurrwarra
Verse 2:
Nginya-ma warmala
Wirlankarra kayini
Ngamu kaini
Nginya-ma warmala
Winlankara kayini
Nginya-ma warmala
Abala wanya ban karri
Kirra wanya
Karuwurru
Chorus:
Barnangku marnini
Nyundu warmaladarra
Nyamba ban marnini
Ngayu nyundu-ma
Ngabaju (Grandmothers Song)
A song about the importance of Grandmother’s and how they carry so much knowledge of life and of being a woman.
Verse 1:
Barna nguran kayini
Ngainya ngabaju ngurra
Kudij kayini
Ban ngarrangarna
Nyuninya ngurra
Barrakurra
Barna liward kayini
Ngainya ngabaju nginyi
Ngurra barrakurru
Barna liward kayini
Nyuninya ngurra
Barrakurru
You taught me so much
about everything I know
but looking at this country
without you to show
me all the meanings
all the places I should go
it breaks my sore heart
that I don’t know the flow
now that I’m older
I see what you mean to me
I see the kind of woman
that I’m meant to be
I want you to know
I gave my daughter your name
Didn’t know it was possible
to feel this much pain
Chorus:
Abala ban nyundu
Ngarrangarna ngayinya
Ngurru
Kudij kayini
Marndiyala
Marndiyala
Marndiyala ngurra
Marndiyala ngurra
Verse 2:
Abala ban ngayu,
Liward kayini
Nyuninya banku ngurra
Muju muju barna kayini
Abala ban
Ngarrangarna ngayu
Kudij kayini
Nginyangka
Ngurra barrakurru
Nginyangka ngurra
Kudij kayini
Barrakurru
Chorus:
Abala ban nyundu
Ngarrangarna ngainya
Ngurru
Kudij kayini x 2
Marndiyala
Marndiyala
Marndiyala ngurra
Marndiyala ngurra
Ngurra (Rain Song)
Yali marri (Look clouds are coming) A song about being connected to the land through rain.
Larrba nginya ma
Barlawa karri
Muju barlawa
Kayina yukungka
Abala barlawa kayina
Buji ngarna
Muju muju barlawa Karri
Yali yali marradiya
Nguku-wurru munymunyyarra
Kayini Lurrba
Nginya-karra x2
Barlawa wanya
Karnju karudarra
Nguku warndini wanya
Kudij karri nginya-ka
Abala wanya
Nguku wangka ban
Yandurru wajkarra
Yali-yali marradiya
Nguku-wurra munymunyyarra
Kayini lurrba
Nginya-karra x 2
Ngurramarla (Love Song)
Story of being a caretaker, an instrument, a protector, a voice and a mother to the country you are from.
Verse 1:
Country is family
Country is sacred
It is our spirit that helped create it
This is the story of being Aboriginal
Women of the sand hills
We are the original
We have connections
To this land
We are one
Together we stand
We are the family
Together as one
On these sand hills
Under the sun
And when we leave our spirit stays
With our country our spirit remains
Chorus:
Barnangku ngarrangarnini
Ngayinya bayi ngurlu
Ngurramarlangka
Verse 2:
It's our responsibility
To take care of community
Together we share this land
Cause we are all family
Teach our children of the old ways
Keep culture strong keep it maintained
Showing our children right from wrong
The meaning of culture
How to keep it strong
Now we have a new generation
Walk among spirits of the past
Now we all stand together
And together we'll make it last
Chorus:
Barnangku ngarrngarnani
Ngayinya bayi ngurlu
Ngurramarlangka
Kirridarra (Women ’s Song)
A song of praises for women. For women are the life givers. The creators. Karuwurru (all the children). Mothers
Verse 1:Dardu bali kirridarra bali karlunini
Nyarnunya ngurlu abala bali kayini
Nginyangka mujumuju bali
Karri nginyangka
Nginyangka mujumuju bali
Karri nginyangka
Chorus:
Kirridarra buji ngurlu
Barlawa kayini
Karlurnini nginyamadarra
Nyinyangka
Marndamarnda
Abala barlawa karlunini
Yukungka nyinyangka
Ngurramarlangka
Verse 2:
Kirridarra bali wirlarnkarra kayini
Abala bali karlunini ngurlu
Nyarninya nyambarra bali karlini
Abala bali muju karlurini
Marndamarndangka
