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? |
Anonymous from Spain |
No |
It's horrible! It's the hand of capitalist and unconscionable human occidental. I hope that if all the people work together like you we can stop this stupid act. And I don't want to play with a non authentic didgeridoo! |
Anonymous |
No |
It doesn't surprise me at all. I'm sorry that men do their best to take advantage of other men |
Alejandro from Spain |
No |
Exist a patent of didgeridoos? |
Alex from Russia |
No |
I think only that didge from eucalyptus is better than Western Analogs. So real musician will pay for native instrument that have great sound and spirit of Australian land. Aboriginal people should be proud of intensive growing rating of didge culture. |
Alex from United Kingdom |
No |
I original didgeridoos made by an aboriginal would be more appealing. |
Alistair Farris from Australia |
No |
I think it is disgraceful particularly if the didges are being sold as 'authentic'. However I would guess that the majority of didges are bought as ornamental rather than an instrument. It is those people who are chasing the Didge for it's true mystical purpose that would want to ensure that it has been crafted by the same hands that have been crafting for many millennia. |
Anonymous |
No |
I feel that it is unfair towards them |
Anonymous |
No |
It's sad because they were the first who made these instruments and now other people use their invention to make money. It's unfair. |
Antonio Mara from Italy |
No |
I feel angry because I think that didjeridoos are an important example of aboriginal art and I love it. |
Ben Hicks from USA |
No |
I think that it is good and bad. It is a good thing that the culture is progressing but it is also bad that the didge is being imitated and made cheaply by laborers. |
Anonymous |
No |
Disgraceful |
Anonymous from United Kingdom |
No |
It's disgusting. Yet another chance for people to take advantage of someone purely for the money. People from various countries have realised that the didj is making money and getting more and more attention around the world. I am an Aussie and I tell anyone who will listen not to buy a didge that isn't 100% Aboriginal. There are several shops where I live now in Brighton UK that sell these dodgy didge's including stores that do not even sell anything remotely musical. |
Anonymous from Canada |
No |
I think its unfortunate. I understand that cost can force people to buy a cheaper non-authentic didgeridoo but I think anybody who really wants to appreciate the didgeridoo will pay a little more to get the real thing. |
Carol from France |
No |
I think this unfair; these people must have a way to revive their art |
Anonymous |
No |
That's not fair. |
Charles Woolridge Iii from USA |
No |
I think that they have somewhat of a copyright to the didgeridoo since they created it and also they get some sort of a profit from all sales. |
Chris Jemmett from USA |
No |
It's a world problem with indigenous peoples not getting credit for their crafts. I feel they should and maybe world patents might be some way of protecting them. |
Cindy from USA |
No |
I didn't even know what a didgeridoos was until I saw it and I don't know anything about them |
Anonymous from France |
No |
When you make a didgeridoo and you want to sell it you must not copy aboriginal painting cause it is part of their culture. You have to give your personal touch to the didj. But I am against industrial didj like teak or some eucalyptus hollowed by machine that participate to deforestation children working... |
Colleen from USA |
No |
Surprised |
Dane from USA |
No |
I believe that it is a specific right of the aboriginal people to showcase their heritage with these beautiful pieces of musical artwork. |
Dani Muxi from Spain |
No |
It's a pity... buying didges to aboriginal communities allow to them to continue with an important part of their culture |
Daniel Bass from USA |
No |
Its sad |
Daniel Horne from USA |
No |
It is the sad reality of a global economy. Just as there are people who would gladly wear a $20 chinese Rolex there are people who care less about the quality originality history and appreciation for and obligation to the cultural importance of paying a fair price for the real thing rather than paying a ridiculously cheap price for a fake. |
Anonymous |
No |
He is incorrect that the natives do not receive anything in return since it is part of culture |
David from USA |
No |
It isn't traditional for white people to make didgeridoos but I do believe that white ( ie. non-aboriginals ) people should be allowed to make didgeridoos but have to give back some money to the aboriginals because they are the custodians. If a non-aboriginal makes a plastic didj or if they use the split apart methods or burn methods for construction it should be ok I would however advise these non-traditional crafters to give back royalties out of respect for the aboriginals. I had bought my first didj and it was bamboo with an aboriginal painting on it and I didn't know better at the time but I wish I would have gotten an authentic one while I was still in Australia instead of supporting the non- aboriginal didj business. |
Dominique Brack from Australia |
No |
Shit not right! |
Don from Japan |
No |
It's terrible. |
Anonymous from USA |
No |
Although it may be that the Aboriginal people were the inventors/originators of the item there is unfortunately a thing called 'progress'. There are many Native American Indian items in the USA that are made by Non-Native American Indians as well. I don't believe it is wrong although it is best to buy "original/authentic" as often as possible to help the native of any land. |
Anonymous |
No |
I am horrified. I certainly don't think they would sell very well if people new that they were to find out that it was not made by an indigenous person. |
Anonymous |
No |
Next Didj bought will be made by Aboriginal people |
Eckhard Kemmerer from Australia |
No |
This makes me angry. |
Ed from USA |
No |
Not sure |
Ed from Australia |
No |
That's pretty poor form especially considering the importance of the instrument to the people who traditionally use it. |
Anonymous |
No |
N/a |
Eric from USA |
No |
It is kind of like having an "Indian" bow and arrows made in China. It's just wrong. |
Eric from USA |
No |
I think its wrong but look at how the world is. Multi-billion/trillion dollar companies destroying small businesses and putting family owned shops out of business. It's very sad and very true. |
Evelyn from Singapore |
No |
I feel it is unfair being an artist myself I understand how it feels to to be short changed for our work sometimes but at the end of the day as artists we accept what comes along just to keep our art (passion) going. |
Fred Morgan from USA |
No |
You can get just as good a price and have the real thing...so don't buy unless authentic |
Anonymous from USA |
No |
I'm not really sure how to answer. I just recently purchased a didge from a non Aboriginal person but he seems & sounds like he is very spiritually attuned to them. He seems to care greatly. There are always going to be copies of anything & that isn't necessarily a bad thing. |
Gary Marsh from United Kingdom |
No |
We should support all aboriginal peoples across the world fair trade! |
Anonymous |
No |
I feel the indigenous people are being ripped off. |
Gene from USA |
No |
I think the world has been blessed by the Aboriginal people and the didgeridoo and when didges are made for sheer profit the Aboriginal people have been taken advantage of. |
Genia from USA |
No |
After watching a video on the process of harvesting painting and culture of the didge I feel that products that are not made and given credit to the artisans who made them are simply over priced fakes. |
Greg Thorn from United Kingdom |
No |
Even if wasn't much there should be at least a % of the retail that go towards a fund of a form of trust into natives not just for aboriginal people but for all other native men and women over the globe whether or not the item was made by them or is a replica |
Harry from Netherlands |
No |
If the didge is made in Oz it should be hollowed out by termites and build by the aboriginal people. |
Hilde from Belgium |
No |
I think it's like stealing from the Aboriginal people. We abuse their culture |
Anonymous |
No |
It could be considered disrespectful to the aboriginal people with the traditional cultural symbol cheapened |
Jérôme Ruiz from France |
No |
Les peuples originels dont les aborigènes font parties ont internet a ce que leur culture reste dans le monde. Tous les moyen doivent être employés seul bémol essayer de ne pas déformer les faits garder les rêves pour ce qu'ils sont garder le plus longtemps possible intact l'esprit de l'être humain la culture aborigène; a travers ses instruments des reportages mais aussi des moyens pour garder un mode de vie sain restant en adéquation avec les principes fondamentaux de ce peuple primordial. |
James Wilkinson from USA |
No |
The natives are being cheated |
Anonymous |
No |
I think that the Didjeridu belongs to the Aboriginals and they should have full rights to it just like musicians have with there music |
Anonymous |
No |
Its a crime to the Aboriginal people in not receiving compensation for the instrument they invented. Creating copyright and export laws may help curbing this crime. |
Anonymous from USA |
No |
As with anything else in the world today. |
John from Australia |
No |
Not fair |
John from USA |
No |
I learned this on your site. I don't think that anyone that is a true musician believes that they should compromise when it comes to the quality of their musical instrument. Everybody knows that didgeridoos are an Aboriginal instrument. Aborigines make the best ones so spend the extra money and get a real one and support the people that make these beautiful handcrafted instruments. |
Josh from USA |
No |
I recently found this out and having done so I immediately called up the vendor from which I purchased my so-called "Indonesian-made" Didj and was told a factory in indonesia mass produces them. I'm a little disgusted at the moment with my didj. |
Jutta from Germany |
No |
It's bad the production and selling belongs mainly to the aboriginals. It's not good for the quality of the instruments because white often think only material |
Katie Davis from USA |
No |
That's horrible. |
Kenneth from Malta |
No |
It is unfair on the customers who want genuine aboriginal artefacts and unfair to aboriginal people |
Kimberley from Australia |
No |
I think it's deplorable and it should not be allowed to happen |
Anonymous |
No |
I feel native Australians as well as Native Americans should be able to profit by sharing aspects of their culture with the rest of the world. |
Kristy from Australia |
No |
I think it's disgraceful. I am certainly no purveyor of art. I don't understand it I don't get it. But Aboriginal art just fascinates me because of the cultural significance the ancestry and the history behind each piece. To find out that they receive hardly anything for what is possibly their most famous cultural emblem is embarrassing to a white Australian like myself. |
Krisztian from Canada |
No |
In today's artificial world I'm not surprised a bit about that fact. It's too bad. It sounds to me that many of the First Nations People here in Yukon Canada struggle with similar issues as Aboriginals in Australia. We need to keep the authentic and natural art of these beautiful Aboriginal people alive and well. Thank you for having a site like yours on the Internet. |
Kyle from Australia |
No |
I wasn't aware of the actual statistics but if true it is unsurprising.It is extremely unfair for a person to dedicate their time to something for a consumer and go un-noticed let alone to not be unpaid. Surely in most circumstances the retailer will buy products from the artist or receive a commission.If this does not occur then that is purely unjust. |
Anonymous from USA |
No |
It is horrible |
Laura from USA |
No |
I am shopping for one that was made by Aboriginal craftspersons |
Anonymous |
No |
I think the Aboriginal people should get some kind of royalties like in the US they should have a patent |
Anonymous from Australia |
No |
Shocked and not happy! |
Lucas Rodriguez from Spain |
No |
IÂ's horrible the fact that the aboriginal people could lost their identity and also the tradition of an instrument like didgeridoo the problem is always the profits people wants to get more and more and don't care about anything more... |
Luke from United Kingdom |
No |
I don't think that is bad. Its fine for people to make their own or buy any didge they want. It is wrong for someone to falsely claim a didge has been made by an Aboriginal person. I'm sure authentic Aboriginal didges fetch higher prices. |
Marcus from Australia |
No |
I'm appalled |
Margaret Thompson from USA |
No |
I think it is horrible and I am stunned. |
Mark from Australia |
No |
It is very sad. especially as all the trees that are torn down for commercial use and the end use maybe not be aware of what they are buying. |
Mark from Australia |
No |
This is not good. If you want a real didgeridoo it should be made by aboriginal people. |
Anonymous |
No |
Market for didgeridoos world wide has increased and world wide supply and shipping could be one problem. |
Martyn from USA |
No |
I think that didgeridoos made by Aboriginal people can be considered authentic. I have however no objection to didges being made or sold by anyone as long as they do not misrepresent their origins |
Matthew from USA |
No |
It's incredible exploitation. The aboriginals are the creators of these instruments...without them we would not enjoy the beautiful sounds they make. I think it is sad that due courtesy and respect are not given where deserved. |
Michael from USA |
No |
I feel it is just another example of piracy in the market and indigenous tribes everywhere just be credited and compensated for their ingenious |
Mikolaj from USA |
No |
Feel bad |
Monica from USA |
No |
I think it is better to buy one that is but that due to free enterprise you won't be able to prevent people from selling the others. |
Omri from Israel |
No |
Not good |
Anonymous |
No |
I feel bad |
Orpheas from Greece |
No |
I think it is unacceptable since it is a theft of culture and shows no respect to these indigenous people who have invented this instrument...It is a shame that western copyright protection laws are not 'valid' and don't 'apply' to these people and their cultural heritage as they would apply to a western inventor... |
Paolo from Italy |
No |
Not correct. there should be more transparency on where the didgeridoo come from. |
Anonymous from Canada |
No |
This may be a sign of the popularity of the instrument. Music is an international language and all humans should feel free to create instruments. However the authentic aboriginal instruments should be identifiable as such. |
Anonymous |
No |
If the world had convenient access to didgeridoos made by Aboriginal people I am sure that many would prefer not only to buy a didge from them but also be guided by them on how to play. |
Patti Baker from USA |
No |
It is a sad state when almost anyone can profit from someone else's culture/religion. That is why I made a point to find a strictly Aboriginal vendor while in Australia doing research on Aboriginal religion several years ago. Who better to try to learn from?. |
Paul from United Kingdom |
No |
Terrible. there should be controls to stop these money grabbers. what a shame we can't trust people who deliberately mislead for commercial purposes. |
Anonymous from Portugal |
No |
It is a fact mine is also not made by aborigines for much penalty mine I have the conscience that he is a false one. I bought a cheap one to be able to learn later yes I want a true one until liked to buy it to an aborigine in person. One attempted against to the culture is aborigine but the truth is that it is difficult to find a true didgeridoo here in Portugal. |
Pedro Duarte from Poland |
No |
I guess that although the didgeridoos are aborigine "intellectual property" the money should go to whoever makes them...so...in this capitalistic world it makes sense. Cannot deny though that I wish the aborigines would take part in the making and also profiting in that. |
Pedro from Portugal |
No |
I think that as a crime. it's like stealing something that is ours. |
Anonymous |
No |
I think the best way to change this is fair Deals. |
Anonymous from Australia |
No |
I feel that this is taking advantage of the aboriginal people and exploiting there traditional culture for financial gain. I feel that the aboriginal people would be offended by this fact. |
Ramon from Spain |
No |
It's really a shame that aboriginal people is exploited and abused in this fact. |
Ramon Deus from United Kingdom |
No |
I think it is a sad reflection on today's society. Everybody I know believes that the Didjeridu is an aboriginal 'cottage industry' If Aborigine's don't benefit from production surely there ia an argument for them to receive a royalty!! |
Anonymous |
No |
What a rip-off! |
Richard from USA |
No |
Just like anything hand crafted the people making these items should be paid fairly according to the workmanship involved.And more should be being done to make sure they are not exploited and taken advantage of. |
Rino Serafino from Germany |
No |
I feel that is so much disrespect sometimes in this world. At least there's just one planet Earth like one mother one father. |
Robin Oberg from Sweden |
No |
It's horrible. Not only do the aboriginal people in Australia get robbed of both their cultural heritage as well as their income vital rainforest is getting cut down in the process. |
Roderick Van Der Veen from Netherlands |
No |
Kinda strange because normally the 'inventor' always gets a piece of the sales. |
Rodney from USA |
No |
I prefer to have an aut henic made by aboriginal |
Romain from France |
No |
It's a shame |
Ronald Brady from USA |
No |
I would like to see all of these products clearly marked for consumers. Also it would please me to hear that the aborigines were positively enriched by sales of their own products. |
Ryan from USA |
No |
Wrong wrong wrong. We should pay homage to the teachers who introduced us to such a gift. |
Sara from Portugal |
No |
About this I think it's very normal.. |
Savananh from United Kingdom |
No |
It's terrible. The Aboriginal should get at least some credit! After all they did invent the instrument. |
Scott from USA |
No |
SAD |
Shawn from USA |
No |
Sad Like the American Indians. It's just not fair. It's like stealing the Aboriginal people's history |
Anonymous from USA |
No |
Not sure |
Sherree from USA |
No |
Sad. I feel the quality of the instrument is probably not as good. They Aboriginal people should get some type of royalty off these knock offs. |
Anonymous |
No |
Evidencia la falta de respeto que se les debe. Valorar el uso que podamos darle a este tradicional instrumento Australiano es fundamental para preservar su cultura. |
Simon from United Kingdom |
No |
A sad fact of life but there are many didge makers producing good instruments from hardwoods without overcharging. It would be great if some money could be given but do you then pay native americans when white guys make flutes? It should be about making people aware as you are doing to stop them buying the rubbish |
Sophie from Australia |
No |
As if we haven't done enough to steel the aboriginal culture and heritage people are now profiting from their beautiful sounds as well just shameful |
Stacey from USA |
No |
I wouldn't want to purchase a non-aboriginal didge. |
Steve Bailey from United Kingdom |
No |
I think money from all didge sales should go to Aboriginal people. If you cannot buy a cornish pasty anywhere but Cornwall then the same should apply to didges |
Steve from United Kingdom |
No |
Sad |
Stuart Bond from United Kingdom |
No |
In our globalised world where products can be delivered in days and communications are now instantaneous we are living increasingly in a commodified and homogenised bubble. The modern world is typified by waste - be that material gaseous or human. Our addiction to fossil hydrocarbons is destroying the ability of the planet to regenerate itself and our profligate consumption of key ecosystem services such as clean water fresh air and soil to grow things is under serious threat. Climate change is now the most serious issue facing all of humanity. In this time of crisis we need wisdom and yet the very people who have such wisdom are also seen as a waste. If you are not an economic factor of production then you are a waste that must be processed eliminated and disposed of. Our treatment of all tribal peoples "our reservoir of Earth Knowledge" as waste is a symptom of a society far from equilibrium. We cannot reverse the current direction of the capitalist juggernaut but we can attempt to steer it onto a new course - a course where there is no waste where the earth is held to be sacred and its most prized possession is held by those who have been living a life in balance for tens of thousands of years. We can reward that knowledge by sending the correct price mechanism through the economic system. Paying a fair price for a fairly-traded product with a percentage of profits to be re-invested in social and environmental projects is surely a start. |
Anonymous from United Kingdom |
No |
Not good |
Sue from Australia |
No |
I was not aware that is was over 90%. It is disgusting to now know the true figures. |
Anonymous from Spain |
No |
Lo importante es el sonido. |
Anonymous |
No |
Interesting to know |
Tarah Mccombes from Australia |
No |
This is wrong considering this is a aboriginal item. |
Anonymous |
No |
Bummer |
Tim Gillott from United Kingdom |
No |
I think that all Australians whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous have a right to become immersed in the culture and way of the didgeridoo and have a right to learn how to make and sell them provided they have a true respect for the Indigenous culture and traditions that produced the didge over thousands of years. I think that any Indigenous maker should receive all the kudos money and respect for their instruments that they craft and bequeath to us whether by sale or any other means. I think that makers in other countries have a right to manufacture didges as well PROVIDING: (A) they do NOT try to pass off their products as Indigenous Australian (B) they use materials in a sustainable manner ie NOT raping forests simply to obtain scarce material such as teak etc. and (C) they have a knowledge and respect for Indigenous Australian culture as it relates to the instrument. Makers who do not adhere to the above three conditions should be blacklisted as soon as they are discovered. |
Tim from USA |
No |
I think this should be regulated by the government |
Tom from USA |
No |
A grave injustices! |
Tom from Israel |
No |
It happens with many folk arts - dream catchers teepees are an example. I'm not sure all aboriginals want to be making didges all day... and forcing some "didge tax" doesn't feel right.. As a Jew it would be funny if we taxed the christians for using our bible... |
Anonymous from Australia |
No |
Appalled I believe it is the aboriginal culture and only genuine didges made by aboriginals should be sold. |
Anonymous from Italy |
No |
I know this and I think that it ought to be clear in the price of sell. I think also that it is an instrument that have not a copyright by the aboriginal in this way everybody could made it. The free market |
Anonymous |
No |
Upset for Aboriginal people |
William from USA |
No |
I find it wonderful that people around the world make these simple instruments. I have only received these instruments as gifts. I respect the craftspeople who made the instruments I play but I know that they build on there own knowledge and have tenuous connections to the Original instruments and the culture that originated them. |
Zoe from Australia |
No |
I think it is totally wrong and is the reason why I chose to purchase a didj through your website rather than chance buying a non Aboriginal product sold by someone who has no idea! |
