Yolŋu Matha from Galiwin’ku to the McG

It is 3016kms from remote Elcho Island or to its traditional owners Galiwin’ku, an island off the coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory - down to the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, known as the iconic MCG.

Yolŋu Radio broadcasters Baykali Ganambarr and Willie Gumbula have made the vast trek across Australia twice now, to broadcast the annual special event, Dreamtime at the ‘G match between Australian Football League (AFL) clubs, Essendon and Richmond in Yolŋu matha.

This year, they were joined by the first female commentator to broadcast in language, Milingimbi woman Sylvia Nulpinditj, and newcomer BJ Mununngurr.

Baykali is the entertainer and Willie is the analyst. When the team got the chance to announce Dreamtime at G in Melbourne, they were thrilled.

‘Two Yolŋu boys from Arnhem land in a remote community coming down to the MCG and talking Yolŋu matha and spreading the love and showing our language and where we are from,’ said Baykali.

‘It’s not just for us but for the whole broader wider Australia, you know, to let people know we still speak our language and we’re proud of it and we’re here.’ 

They got to meet some of their sporting idols, too.

‘I’m still a bit starstruck, we got to meet Richo, BT and Burgoyne my favourite player was there. I was proper stoked, I was starstruck, I couldn’t stop smiling,’ Baykali said.

Yolŋu Radio has been broadcasting in Yolŋu matha for over twenty years, entertaining, informing and educating Arnhem land, including six major Yolŋu communities and dozens of homelands. 

They provide translation services, and broadcast entertainment, like the Elvis hour, and the incredibly popular local AFL Elcho Island football league games, all in Yolŋu matha.

On Galwin’ku, broadcasting AFL games is proper bush radio. Temperatures get so hot that equipment can melt during shows, while other equipment takes a beating in the dust. But the show must go on.

Yolŋu Matha is the name for a group of closely related languages spoken in northeast Arnhem land, with around 10,000 speakers. In the region, Yolŋu Matha is used in everyday life, at home, at work and during ceremony. Yolŋu Radio personifies the environment of its audience.  

‘One special thing about this place is how prominent and how important language is,’ said Yolŋu Radio broadcaster Will Porter. 

‘Any event and activity, art, sport or education, any opportunity to put that in Yolŋu matha, that’s what we are all about at ARDS and Yolŋu Radio.’ 

Yolŋu Radio wants to make sure Yolŋu matha is spoken as often as possible.

‘Our language is part of who we are, it’s part of our lands. Part of our songlines. Part of our identity,’ said commentator, Sylvia Nulpinditj  

The ‘G match between the two rivalry clubs Essendon and Richmond, is an annual special event that recognises the contribution of all Indigenous players to the AFL, drawing record crowds each year.

Check out the documentary about their trip to the McG at the AFL website.