Two-year-old Gikawarra Yunupingu is NT News’ 2024 Cutest Wet Season Bub
Two-year-old Gikawarra captured readers’ hearts with a photo of him playing the didgeridoo, channelling the musical legacy of one of his many famous ancestors.
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Warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers: this article contains references to people who have died
Meet Gikawarra Yunupingu – a little didgeridoo player from one of the Territory’s most distinguished families and the NT News’ inaugural Cutest Wet Season Bub winner.
The two-year-old from East Arnhem Land captured readers’ hearts with a photo showing him playing the didgeridoo in traditional Gumatjcolours.
Unbeknown to many, the photo marked an important moment in little Gika’slife and that of his rich family history.
It was taken in May 2023 at the memorial service for G Yunupingu AM, the pioneering land rights campaigner and Gika’s great-grandfather on his father’s side.
Gika played Yothu Yindi’s “Djapana”, a song originally written and performed by his other great-grandfather, Mandawuy, to a coterie of more than 200 mourners.
Gika’s mother Chloe Mercer said she already saw signs of her son’s musical heritage flowering.
“Even though he’s little, he can already play the didgeridoo like an adult,” the 24-year-old said.
“His father is really strong about him becoming something for his people. He wants him to better himself and become something, to get an education and to be able to come back and help his community.
“At the end of the day, whatever he does, we just want to see him succeed and go somewhere special in his life.”
Apart from music, Mrs Mercer said he adored kicking the footy, as well as hunting and fishing with his father Winston.
It is perhaps no coincidence that his name translates to “fire” in Yolŋu language because according to his mother, he has plenty of it in his belly.
“He’s only two years old but he acts like he’s five – no one ever guesses that he’s so young because he has so much energy,” she said.
Nearly 300 people cast votes in the very first Cutest Wet Season Bub competition and the NT News would like to thank every parent who nominated their adorable little bub.
Originally published as Two-year-old Gikawarra Yunupingu is NT News’ 2024 Cutest Wet Season Bub
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