David Blanasi

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David Blanasi (b. circa 1930) was a Wugularr elder (Mialili language group) and master instrument maker, and is acknowledged as one of the great master mago (didgeridoo) players of the 20th century^[1]. He was a full-blooded Aboriginal native of south-central Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia.

1 Background
2 Disappearance
3 Films
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Background

Blanasi first experimented with the didgeridoo at an early age, imitating the sounds of various animals. His father later taught him further, as well as the traditional methods of making musical instruments. Young Blanasi was known for always carrying his mago as he and his family wandered the Arnhem Land around Kundirri. He developed a reputation as a virtuoso player of traditional Gunborg syncopation.

Blanasi traveled extensively over a period of thirty years (including tours to England and Mexico) and in 1967 he became the first full-blooded indigenous Australian to travel to England since 1792^[2]. He later co-founded the "White Cockatoo Performing Group" in conjunction with his life-long partner, songmaster Djoli Laiwonga. He taught the Australian-born entertainer Rolf Harris how to play the didgeridoo, Harris becoming perhaps the first notable non-Aboriginal Australian to master the instrument.

[edit] Disappearance

In 1998 Djoli Laiwonga died, and an emotionally stricken Blanasi retired in solitude to a home in Barnyili. David Blanasi went missing in August, 2001, reportedly after going out to search for wood to be used in instrument making. Newspaper coverage brought the situation into the public eye, and his disappearance generated widespread speculation and a number of rumors regarding "magical" occurrences. No trace of Blanasi has been found since 2001, but a number of spiritualists have claimed to be "in touch" with him. Although his body was never found, his family eventually held a funeral ceremony for him.