Wangany Mala

Hundreds of years before European colonies were established on the Australian continent, First Nations were part of a trading network that extended to China’s Qing Dynasty. Indonesian ‘Makassan’ fishing fleets harvested trepang (sea cucumber) for six months of every year with the local Nations of northern Australia. By 1907 the trade was ended by colonial authorities.

Waŋgany Mala (2024) follows the journey of Nirmala in South Sulawesi as she works on the construction of a traditional pinisi sailboat and discovers her region’s ongoing connections to Marege’ – the Makassan name for Arnhem Land. Filmed over five years in collaboration with Anindilyakwa and Yolŋgu communities, this documentary is set to a soundtrack by experimental Melbourne composer Fia Fiell, and features rarely seen footage, photographs and artwork.

Yolŋu, English, Amamalya Ayakwa (Anindilyakwa, Groote Eylandt), Bahasa Indonesia, and Coastal Konjo (South Sulawesi) languages.