The heart-shaped leaves of karrbarda, the long yam (Dioscorea transversa) are similar to mankinjdjek, the “cheeky yam” (Dioscorea bulbifera). The cheeky yam is poisonous unless properly prepared. But the old people know how to tell the leaves apart. Women used to dig up long yams with kunbalkbu (digging sticks), but now they usually use kubba (“crow bars”, sticks fashioned from bits of metal). They go into the forest, to the places they know the yams will be, dig them up and cook them in the ashes of the fire. We still eat them, like we always used to. But the young girls today often don’t know how to recognise the leaves of the long yam, only the old women.
Karrbarda is also the subject of a well known song cycle, still performed in Gunbalanya today.

Manbu karrbarda makka karakelrohrok mankinjdjek kohbakohbanj bedman kabirrirakelburrbun manbu karrbarda dja mankinjdjek. Korroko birrikarungi kunbalkbu dja bolkkime kubba wirlmurrng nawu balanda marnbom kabirrikarung karrbarda nawu daluk. Kabirrire manberrk kore kungarre kore bedman kabirribolkburrbun kubolkkuken kore karrbarda karri manwern wanjh kabirrire kabirrikarung manwern kabirrimang kabirriwilkdeng ngarringun bu korrokoni. Dja bolkkime larrk minj kabirriburrbun kabirrirakelburrbun manbu karrbarda nawu yawkyawk daluhdaluk kabirrirakelwakwan manbu karrbarda. Birrikudji kohbakohbanj dabborrabbolk morlehmorlenj kabirrirakelburrbun manbu karrbarda.

Size 23 x 52 cm | Medium Bark | Catalogue # 866-23 | Year 2023

Artist  Joey Nganjmirra

Joey Nganjmirra is a storyteller, dancer and cultural ambassador. Amongst the younger generation in Gunbalanya, he is one of those who have taken on the task of carrying on the Stories.
Many of his works are driven by narrative, with figures in different stages of a story compressed into a single scene. Others include strong graphic forms, often overlayed and woven into complex designs. His works are primarily figurative, but the interlocking figures sometimes tend towards abstraction and he also produces abstract works based on ceremonial patterns. A look through his works reveals a broad range of stories and original compositions rivalled by few other artists at Injalak.
His Mamam (maternal grandfather) Mirndabal Manakgu was from Mangardubu, and he has many stories from this area north of Gunbalanya such as Wulwunj.
Joey Nganjmirra is part of a rich artistic family (Nganjmirra) and clan group (Djalama). He is a member of the Karrbarda dance troupe which often performs at festivals as well as local ceremonies. He is the son of Rachael Manakgu and Steven Nganjmirra. 

further details

Size 23 x 52 cm
Medium  Bark
Catalogue # 866-23
Year 2023