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 30 x 41 cm | Medium Paper | Catalogue # 31-22 | Year 2022

Artist  Connie Nayinggul

Connie Nayinggul is a daughter of Doris Badari and Jacob Nayinggul and a sister of Katie and brother of Samuel Nayinggul.Ngalwamud Ngalmanilakarr. She is married to Joseph Garnarradj. She previously worked at Injalak as a cataloguer and as Park Ranger. Connie often shares her deep knowledge of Kunwinjku culture. She hosts school groups at her outstation and in 2019 appeared on various television programs including Gardening Australia speaking about botany and rock art on her country. She now lives on her outstaion at Mikkinj and continues to weave fibre art including earrings, coil baskets and animal sculptures. 

further details

Size 30 x 41 cm
Medium  Paper
Catalogue # 31-22
Year 2022