Name and Country |
Did you know that fact? |
What do you think or feel about the fact that well over 90% of all didgeridoos sold are not made by Aboriginal people, nor is any money from those sales returned to Aboriginal people? |
Ahmed Malik from Sweden |
No |
It is pity |
Alaina from USA |
No |
I think that it would be ethical to give money or some kind of goods/services back to the Aboriginal people. |
Anonymous |
No |
I have no opinion |
Anonymous |
No |
It is taking away from the culture |
Anatoliy from Ukraine |
No |
I think people who intend to buy didge should pay the appropriate tribute to Aboriginal people. I live far from Australia but I believe that they really need our support... |
Anthony from Australia |
No |
If they are not made by aboriginal people they are not genuine. |
Brad from Australia |
No |
Its great good to look after aboriginal heritage |
Anonymous |
No |
Students might be better than teachers but I'll prefer instrument made by Aboriginal people. |
Anonymous |
No |
I think it is important that original artifacts are created by those indigenous peoples who are responsible for their existence on the earth to begin with. |
Brett from Australia |
No |
There are no restrictions on who can make violins either nor is there a royalty paid to anyone because someone in Brisbane makes violins. I think that the benefit will come to the aboriginal people if they market their Didjeridoos as the "genuine" article. I am looking at your web page because I am looking for the genuine article. |
Anonymous from USA |
No |
I think that some money should go to the aboriginal people because it is there instrument. |
Anonymous from USA |
No |
Unfortunate |
Chad from USA |
No |
I think that all Didjes should only be Aborigine made and harvested. Who better than the people who invented it right? |
Chad from USA |
No |
It;s lame that's why I'm on this website. |
Chris Holmes from Australia |
No |
It's wrong. |
Chrystina from USA |
No |
That is too bad they deserve to be recognized and make a living and support themselves and their families. Most important is to keep the people in touch with their heritage |
Colleen from USA |
No |
I think that the art form in creating didgeridoos should be shared with others to keep it alive BUT only if they clearly state that their product is NOT made by Aboriginals. I believe that if they are stating otherwise it is absolutely wrong. The Aboriginals have been creating them for ages and should not lose their art nor money to fakes. |
Dan from USA |
No |
..it seems to be a common practice worldwide not just with Didjes but other native products as well.. |
Dan from USA |
No |
I believe anyone should be afforded the right to make (including for sale) ethnic instruments regardless of their heritage. It would not be right to say that no one but the Aboriginal people may make play or sell a didgeridoo any more than it would be right to try and prevent anyone other than a Native American (I personally prefer "American Indian") to make or play the Native American flute. I am maker of Native American flutes. Though I am of verifiable Cherokee and Creek ancestry I am not a member of a federally recognized tribe. What is wrong is to misrepresent ones work by misleading or outright lying to charge higher prices by calling your work "authentic" Aboriginal Native American or whatever ethnicity. |
Danesh Faquih from Australia |
No |
Quite appalling actually. I would prefer that a didj I bought was hand made by an aboriginal as it is their art form and their culture that brought about my love in the didj. |
Anonymous |
No |
Not ideal |
Darlene from Canada |
No |
I think it is appalling however growing up in the West and daily witnessing how ruthless business will capitalize off of anything they can I of course was not surprised when I discovered that. |
Anonymous |
No |
Didjes should be native made! |
David from USA |
No |
Just be a smart shopper. You get what you pay for. You can buy a PVC pipe with a beeswax mouthpiece or a brilliant instrument with warmth and culture...enough said...Hakuna Matata:) |
Daz from United Kingdom |
No |
Investment in indigenous people is vital if we are to preserve different cultures and ways of life and to prevent the world becoming one homogeneous society. |
Anonymous from Canada |
No |
I think that it is sad but not terribly surprising in that as something becomes popular there are always those who want to jump on the bandwagon. |
Don from USA |
No |
They deserve compensation and an authenticity mark. |
Edward from USA |
No |
It is sad but true. Although I think people have the right to make their own didgeridoos there should be some benefit in one way or another to the original people who introduced this great instrument to the world. |
Eleanor Hjemmet from USA |
No |
I am appalled! |
Eoin Donohoe Carson from Ireland |
No |
It disgusts me to know that other people are benefiting from an instrument that was passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years to the aboriginal people. a people who were raped of their land culture and way of life. now these criminals are taking away one of the only ways that the aboriginals can make a living. I think it is terrible. |
Eric from Australia |
No |
I don't have a problem with the manufacture of the instrument but do have a problem with the art work being represented as Aboriginal when it is not. I have gotten into public exchanges with a certain prominent Tasmanian non-aboriginal artist over her work using aboriginal designs and stories. |
Fabrice from France |
No |
It may be good to export the knowing of the didj and then Aboriginal culture. I have personally learn the didj on a poor bamboo one bought for 20 EURO (without any shipping cost!). it's know broken and I want to upgrade my level so I came to you. I think that good players (better than me!) may be more concerned (and more capable of) by giving money to Aboriginal people. I Want a didj for around 800 EURO max but I have to wait to earn enough money! |
Fernando from Spain |
No |
I feel is disgusting |
Anonymous from Croatia/Hrvatska |
No |
I think it is very bad thing. People want money and nothing else they don't care about spiritual aspect of this beautiful instrument and cultural significance to the Aboriginal people... |
Frank from USA |
No |
If they can make a buck they will make a knock-off. It's a shame. |
Fred from USA |
No |
I am mixed. As a builder of guitars I am intrigued by the construction of all musical instruments and would enjoy building a didge some time though it would be wrong or me to claim it as an "aboriginal didge" when it was made by a white guy in the US. I do believe it is a sad and unfortunate fact that something central to the Aboriginal culture would be taken by others. |
Gail Plumbe from Australia |
No |
It is a shame that people come up with make a quick buck and don't understand the culture of the items they make |
Geoff Smith from Australia |
No |
Very sad |
Georgina Moynihan from USA |
No |
Compensations to didge artist/crafter is an earned right and should be on a sliding scale according to the experience and art of individuals who who create their wonderful musical instrument such as the Didgeridoo |
Gianluca from Italy |
No |
Sadness...... |
Hajo Hoffmann from Netherlands |
No |
Very sad |
Anonymous |
No |
It sucks |
Isabelle from France |
No |
I'm not surprised by this fact. Aboriginal Art is recovered for merchandising and business. For the Aboriginals didgeridoo is a sacred instrument for sacred ceremonies and they doesn't considered it like a product. |
Jacob from USA |
No |
Its outrageous of coarse. This is nothing new in the world. It will go on and on. White people will not turn money loose or share with any other race of people. As long as you have something that white people are interested in that can make a lot of money...you have a best friend until you no longer are making money. |
Jacque from USA |
No |
If they are sold with any reference to the Aboriginal people then a fund should be set up and 10% should go into that fund. |
Jake from Australia |
No |
I didn't know it was as high as 90%. Other countries have indigenous celebrations and tourist merchandise. I think australia should do the same except with genuine aboriginal didgeridoos and more profit going towards the rightful owners of this country |
James from USA |
No |
It is unfortunate and should be corrected. |
James Pierson from USA |
No |
I love it! Too bad there are so many fakes out there. |
Jared from USA |
No |
If non-aboriginal peoples wish to make didges they should not be permitted to use materials from aboriginal lands. To prohibit non-aboriginal peoples from making didges altogether would be like prohibiting anyone other than Mexicans from making tacos. But there should be a clear difference/labeling between aboriginal didges and non-aboriginal. |
Anonymous |
No |
Even if you don't play the didgeridoo and just buy one for the look of it and the art..well if its not made by aboriginal people its not even worth buying. and the fact that they don't profit of the sale pisses me off. |
Jeff Johansen from USA |
No |
I think that the Aboriginal people truly deserve profits for what is rightfully theirs. I turned to didgshop.com after finding out all the useful facts. and I certainly will not buy from another source. |
Jeff from USA |
No |
I think that is bad because it is not right. They gave the world this wonderful instrument. |
John from Australia |
No |
I suspected the figure was high and figured that there were thousands of "souvenir" pieces out there. Would personally rather support the local Aboriginal communities. |
John Smith from USA |
No |
I think that if someone sells what purports to be a didge they need to say that it is not an original Aboriginal didge. |
Joseph Mitchell from USA |
No |
Free enterprise. Do we pay the Edison company every time we buy a light bulb? |
Josh from Australia |
No |
It is saddening to know that this happens the aboriginal culture is on a whole quite poor and they deserve to make profits from their instrument |
Anonymous |
No |
No Comments |
Anonymous from Australia |
No |
They created this beautiful instrument they should get credit and value from it. |
Kyle from USA |
No |
Its an outrage! |
Anonymous from Australia |
No |
I assumed that only the Aboriginal's made and sold them. |
Anonymous from Australia |
No |
I believe that anything sold representing Aboriginal art or artifacts should pay royalties to Aboriginal Australians...or into trust for Aboriginal youth education. |
Les from Australia |
No |
Sad feel st though the people are been robbed Need to something about this Get the message out through message stick |
Lex from Italy |
No |
Distressing. Maybe there should be some sort of patent/licence system to give a % back to Aboriginals from all didges sold |
Lieber from Brazil |
No |
It is a sad fact that people are selling fake aboriginal instruments. They're stealing sacred knowledge and showing no respect for it. But if they sell it not pretending to be an aboriginal instrument I think its ok. There are all kinds of didgeridoo. |
Lies Beijerinck from Netherlands |
No |
Horrible |
Marcin from Poland |
No |
The money should be spent by Aboriginal people for what they need I don't know what would be the best thing for them so they should decide what to do with that money for them selfs |
Anonymous |
No |
That's fair enough we all as humans have the right to make do or invent creations. The didgeridoo does not belong to anyone it was used and made by Aborigines but it does not mean they have that trademark. |
Anonymous from Malta |
No |
It isn't a right thing because they are the people who must be rewarded |
Anonymous from United Kingdom |
No |
I think its a great shame. People should be allowed to sell such didgeridoos but it should be clear that they are not "real". Supporting the aboriginal people is important. |
Matthew Atienza from USA |
No |
I had no idea! My parents bought me one in sydney from a didj shop called "AUSTRAILIAN MADE" a typical tourist shop in Australia I am sure. It is very sad to think that my parents money went to some one who mass produces something that is claimed spiritual in some one else's eyes but really is money and greed in the sellers eyes. To trick human into buying such an instrument that has so much value to the buyer with no value to them selves is sense less. Haha it just kind of hit me in my own mind. |
Anonymous |
No |
Its a shame |
Maureen from USA |
No |
Why is no one doing something about it |
Max from USA |
No |
This is unfortunate. |
Michael Barratt from Australia |
No |
I think all people can use hollowed out wood/PVC/whatever to make a sound similar to a didge. A didge is made by Aboriginal peoples and only that is a didgeridoo. A Didgeridoo is something that is more than sound it is a creation from a culture and has to be able to tell that through the sound. I would like others who sell tubes off as a didgeridoo (and usually very high $$$) to recognise they are profiteering in this way and pay a royalty to the rightful owners of the didgeridoo if nothing more than a sign of respect and politeness. |
Anonymous |
No |
No comment |
Mickael Forsbreg from Sweden |
No |
Disturbing. Every sold didgeridoo from non Aboriginal people should give at least 20% back to the Aboriginal People. |
Anonymous from Malaysia |
No |
The fact is killing me. imagining myself at their place. they don't received thing that should be them. |
Nicolas Lombardot from France |
No |
Cela permet a des currieux de d...couvrir le Didj ... moindre prix avant d'investir dans un vrai si l'instrument les s...duits |
Nicole from Germany |
No |
It makes me feel terrible. And it is not fair to the Aboriginal People! |
Anonymous from Netherlands |
No |
I knew that most of the didges were not made by Aboriginal people but to read that 90% of them aren't is quite shocking. Of course a lot of people don't have the money to buy such a didge for most of them are terribly expensive. So the 90% thing doesn't really bother me. It does bother me that the Aboriginal people get no credit at all. |
Anonymous from USA |
No |
Upsetting |
Noam from Israel |
No |
As long as there not being sold as if they were made by aboriginal people its o k |
Patti from USA |
No |
I think it is unfortunate that anyone would attempt to delude a buyer but more importantly it abuses an ancient art and people who do not deserve to be violated or destroyed in any way. The fact that they are willing to share their art and beauty with non-Aboriginals shows us the depth of their commitment to sustaining their ancient culture...a far more noble endeavour than those attempting to sully their name and art. |
Anonymous |
No |
Unsure |
Anonymous from United Kingdom |
No |
I didn't know this fact but it just another proof of where this world is going- no respect towards ancient and indigenous traditions and peoples of the world. It would be great if we could change this path of thinking |
Ralph from USA |
No |
Music transcends all cultures ultimately the consumer must take a stand. |
Richard from USA |
No |
Like all instruments there are going to be knockoffs. Musicians in the know will understand that the Aboriginal didj are the best and will buy accordingly. Martin guitar or cheap knockoff? You can't control human nature... to make what they don't have or can't afford. |
Richard Hague from United Kingdom |
No |
It is sad. To think that people who could really want to start playing such a beautiful instrument could be put off playing by shoddy merchandise. A form of regulation should be put in place to ensure that a genuine product is purchased. You can't buy a soft drink labelled Coca Cola from any other company apart from Coke so the same should be for didgeridoo's. ie cannot have the name (or various names!) on an instrument unless it has been made by an aboriginal in the traditional manner. |
Rob from United Kingdom |
No |
People who wish to buy a didge/yidaki should ensure that the instrument has been made by aboriginal people and the supply chain ensures that the maker/artist has received a fair and honest payment for their work. I sell fair trade items over the internet and consider that when buying a didge/yidaki the customer should consider the purchase to be exactly the same as purchasing any other fair trade item such as coffee or bananas!! |
Anonymous from Australia |
No |
Disappointed. |
Robert from USA |
No |
It takes a professional for such a work of art |
Roi Redondo from Spain |
No |
I don't know exactly I think cultures need to survives but is good too that they grow or disappear and mixed with others I like didges and not because I'm not australian aborigine I'm gonna stopped play or not make them same way that I like different cultures uses instruments of mine. I think it's different the way of making (about preserves nature) that the person who make. |
Ron from USA |
No |
Feel good about it... |
Rual from USA |
No |
There are those who will try to makes money by any means possible. |
Anonymous from Canada |
No |
Personally I think it's awful. The corporatization and cultural rape of Aboriginal Australian people (not too dissimilar to that in North America) is something that must be stopped and not supported. I would never buy an illegitimate product which contributes to the horrible treatment of the world's people. In shopping for a Yidaki I will only get one that I am sure is authentic and made by Native Australians. In this way I can be sure that I am supporting the right people and obtaining a good instrument. |
Anonymous from United Kingdom |
No |
Very poor show money should be returned to the Aboriginal people to keep culture going. |
Steve from United Kingdom |
No |
It is disgusting that the people who create these amazing instruments are losing out to poorly made pieces of hollow wood that are passed of as Aboriginal Didjeridoo's |
Anonymous from France |
No |
I think it's unimaginable because the aboriginal people are better than machines they know the pure sound it's in their nature it's their tradition since long years I'm deceived because the important thing is not how do u sell it but love you put in the make of didge the sound u produce and the art of transmitting your passion I respect the aboriginal culture we must be respectful and be modest |
Anonymous |
No |
That doesn't seem right |
Anonymous from USA |
No |
That sucks! |
Ursula from USA |
No |
Very unfair |
Anonymous |
No |
We must more respect the aboriginal people |
William from USA |
No |
Such behavior is outrageous and ultimately immoral. Yet it is not surprising when one examines the history of European colonialism. ( I refer also to the treatment of the Native American Indian in my country.) Noblesse oblige---really. |
Anonymous |
No |
Culture is vital in not only preserving a way of life it is essential for the next generation. To deny the Aboriginal people the right to express their culture through their music art and trade should be a crime it not only de-values their way of life it limits our enrichment by another's culture. |
