Name and Country |
Did you know ... sold without stating that fact? |
Did you know ... sold by deceiving customers? |
What do you think or feel about these issue that almost all didgeridoos not made by Aboriginal people are sold without clearly stating this fact?
What do you think or feel about these issue that many didgeridoos not made by Aboriginal people are sold using Aboriginal cultural images or are even sold by deceiving the customer into believing they were made by Aboriginal people? |
Anonymous from Spain |
Yes |
No |
I think that it's important but it's cultural thing and the culture is changing all the time... I don't like so much... |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
Well I don't like swindles and I don't like any lack of respect (in this case to Aboriginal culture) |
Alejandro from Spain |
No |
No |
Nobody can "owns" a cultural fact the quality is ever the best choice but not all people think the same... is the best of the human race |
Alex from Russia |
Yes |
No |
Traditional didge will be better than their analogs. It's about some culture. But for someone eucalyptus didge expensive than for example self made PVC didge. |
Alex from United Kingdom |
No |
No |
I think that having the cultural images are good to make the customer aware who invented the instrument. I don't see it as deception just part of the culture of it. |
Alistair Farris from Australia |
Yes |
No |
I think these people should be criminally charged for misleading advertising. Non-genuine artifacts is a fact of the modern world no matter where you are however these products should be clearly identified as such. If a German tourist wants to purchase a Didge to sit in the corner of their lounge room and do not want to pay for an authentic version then there is a need for cheap non-authentic didges however these should be clearly labelled. If on the other hand the German Tourist wants to purchase a quality didge to play then an authentic didge is the only true option and this should be clearly indicated on the didge so that he/she can be assured that the instrument he is buying is true to it's and the Aboriginal People's heritage. |
Anonymous |
Yes |
No |
ITs not cool |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
It is clearly unfair and rude. Customers become cheated because they don't get what they think they get. And at the same time it's unfair against Aboriginal people. Money goes to big companies which do not have any contacts with Aboriginals. |
Antonio Mara from Italy |
Yes |
No |
Like stealing the aboriginal culture and art |
Ben Hicks from USA |
Yes |
No |
I feel that it is okay in some circumstances. I feel that it is good to get these images out but not in a commercial and fake way. |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
Not fair |
Anonymous from United Kingdom |
Yes |
No |
I am really upset for the Aboriginal people. They have never received the respect they deserve. They have been around for such a long time and people just don't seem to listen to their beliefs or their culture. The artwork is beautiful and although I don't believe only Aboriginal people should be able to do this type of artwork or play didgeridoo I don't think non Aboriginal people should be able to produce artwork or a didge without stating that they are not an Aboriginal. The culture is over 40 000 years old. I tend to think - well they have been around for a long time and white people have only been around for a second compared to them. Therefore I tend to follow their beliefs. |
Anonymous from Canada |
Yes |
No |
It makes it very hard for the consumer to distinguish especially when ordering online. It shouldn't be done and if the company is reputable you shouldn't have to worry. |
Carol from France |
No |
No |
This is very dishonest and done by people only interested in money and not the love and compassion of these beautiful people |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
That's not fair. |
Charles Woolridge III from USA |
No |
No |
I think that the companies that sell the didgeridoo using the cultural images without the permission of the aborigines should be fined for "copyright infringement" |
Chris Jemmett from USA |
No |
No |
Legal action should be taken against anyone making false claims. |
Cindy from USA |
No |
No |
That is awful |
Anonymous from France |
Yes |
No |
I answered to this question just above |
Colleen from USA |
No |
No |
This is not right! |
Dane from USA |
No |
No |
I think that its a slap in the face to Aboriginal people everywhere to see their cultural images depicted in such a flagrant and unassuming way. |
Dani Muxi from Spain |
No |
No |
It's a shame |
Daniel Bass from USA |
No |
No |
Its sad that someone would deceive like that |
Daniel Horne from USA |
Yes |
No |
I would rather save up enough money to buy a genuine individual original instrument/piece of art than to buy cheap imitations of anything. |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
The state must have an organism to help them |
David from USA |
Yes |
No |
It is not fair to both the customer and the aborigines for these things to happen. I think that only aboriginals should be allowed to paint cultural designs and tribal markings on didgeridoos. I believe non-aboriginal crafters should only make plain wood didjes making the wood grain stand out beautifully instead of stealing the aboriginals money by painting them. If this happened it would be clear which was aboriginal and which was not of course aboriginals could make plain didgeridoos as well but would have some sort of universal stamp of authenticity burned somewhere into the didj. Besides aboriginals paint their designs better than anyone else so just leave it to the masters to paint and design Its all about respect. You could of course refer all the non-aboriginals as didgeridoos and the aboriginals as Yidaki/Mago. |
Dominique Brack from Australia |
Yes |
No |
See above. |
Don from Japan |
Yes |
No |
I think that it's pretty much a form of cultural theft. |
Anonymous from USA |
Yes |
No |
I believe it is wrong to deceive anyone. My son found out at the Dreamtime Cultural Centre while in Australia July 2006 about these issues & told me of them. I believe that all items should be marketed appropriately otherwise it is an endangerment to the truth. |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
I get angry when I hear things like this. I think didgeridoos should carry a registered no that has to approved by an aboriginal organisation. |
Anonymous |
Yes |
No |
Next Didj bought will be made by Aboriginal people |
Eckhard Kemmerer from Australia |
No |
No |
Theft should never be condoned. |
Ed from USA |
Yes |
No |
Not sure |
Ed from Australia |
No |
No |
Same again poor form considering that the imagery forms part of the cultural significance of the instrument and the culture in general. |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
I think it should be stated on the didgeridoo |
Eric from USA |
No |
No |
Sadly I am not surprised. If money can be made by exploiting a native people's art and culture then it will be. A sad state of affairs. |
Eric from USA |
No |
No |
False advertising is always something that gets me. A product should be sold on the basis of its quality not deception. |
Evelyn from Singapore |
No |
No |
I feel and witnessed the injustice for the Aboriginal people as I have lived in Australia for a very long period and I attained my Master Degree in Fine Art and Design from the University of Tasmania. The thing is all the Australian friends and family I have there have always been aware and respectful of the culture but I know honest hands can be tied in this world of economical procession. But we all work towards and hope for a better world each coming day. |
Fred Morgan from USA |
Yes |
No |
People should become educated before making buying decisions |
Anonymous from USA |
No |
No |
Please see above. |
Gary Marsh from United Kingdom |
Yes |
No |
Cultural images should be restricted to there points of origin. |
Anonymous |
Yes |
No |
Same as above |
Gene from USA |
No |
No |
There should be some international regulations that would benefit Aboriginal people when didgeridoos are made elsewhere. Maybe some form of a copyright law or royalties law could help. |
Genia from USA |
Yes |
No |
Cheapens the whole situation. Like getting a print of an expensive artists work rather than the original art. There should be some kind of law that makes the seller states the whole process from harvesting to painting the Didgeridoo. Each didge then would be given a history and not just a piece of wood that can play music. |
Greg Thorn from United Kingdom |
Yes |
No |
I have made a few Didjes out of bamboo to sell at local fetes and have painted the dot like pictures that are the same style as true aboriginal paintings but I have a small paragraph on a booklet on 'how to play and look after your didj' stating: this 'didj' and all paintings are representations of culture and lifestyle and are mad hand painted locally.the pictures do not have a meaning. I donate £1.50 from every didj I sell to the Muru Mittigar Aboriginal Welfare Fund it is more to help the alcohol and drug abuse rather than native art rights. |
Harry from Netherlands |
Yes |
No |
It is fraud and therefore a shame. |
Hilde from Belgium |
No |
No |
Maybe a person can make his own didgeridoo for his own use but it would be better that most didgeridoos were made by Aboriginal people and not just as a tourist article but as a valuable product. Maybe it shouldn't be forbidden for other people to make didgeridoos but it should be marked that it isn't made by Aboriginal people. |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
These facts are quite disrespectful and once again it is a case of the aboriginal people being taken advantage of and being marginalised and crippled by the rest of the community treating these aboriginal skills as novelties and only useful in misguiding buyers in making a sale |
Jérôme Ruiz from France |
Yes |
No |
On a tous un jardin secret. Même si d'autres essaient et réussissent à se faire de l'argent sur le dos d'un peuple artisan l'image représentée reviens à celui qui a inventé l'objet par transmission culturelle. Reste à savoir quelle image le monde aura des aborigènes dans quelques années |
James Wilkinson from USA |
No |
No |
It sucks |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
I think it should be clearly stated that they are copies - example like an artist owns his painting. a Forger can be charged |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
Store vendors and websites should be held accountable in selling these fake products for profit and being insensitive to the Aboriginal people. |
Anonymous from USA |
Yes |
No |
Same as above. |
John from Australia |
No |
No |
Not fair |
John from USA |
No |
No |
Anyone who does this should be prosecuted by law. If I was going to buy a Fender Stratocaster and I wanted one made in America (they have the highest quality craftsmanship and cost the most) and someone tells me it's made in America but it's made in Mexico they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It's not a moral issue. It's a legal one. One should pay for genuine high craftsmanship. |
Josh from USA |
No |
No |
Though marketing is the name of the game still...it's unethical and most of all...it's stealing. |
Jutta from Germany |
Yes |
No |
Easy selling but not good for our world. I do not agree making money with lies! Catastrophe for the old culture the aboriginals have. |
Katie Davis from USA |
No |
No |
It's thievery. |
Kenneth from Malta |
No |
No |
It is unethical |
Kimberley from Australia |
Yes |
No |
I think it detracts from our Aboriginal community and is fraud |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
Thee origin of the piece as well as it's maker should be clearly stated and known in advance of sale. |
Kristy from Australia |
No |
No |
I can imagine that many people who purchase these items believe they are authentic and I hope they would buy them with the same hopes and thoughts in mind as myself. As I've said to use imagery so precious and sacred to Aboriginal people is deplorable. There should be some law against it which prevents this profiteering. |
Krisztian from Canada |
No |
No |
It seems like the way of western democracy and it's melting pot efforts to dishonour original native and natural products. However with the invent of the Internet and the availability of purchasing products online some of that can be changed; or at least retard this ever-so-increasing current of western democratic business. |
Kyle from Australia |
Yes |
No |
It is extremely unjust to use and exploit a person's culture and beliefs in this case spiritual and cultural art work and skills for personal benefits and pure greed.The idea of having a handmade aboriginal didgeridoo would appeal to any person and to claim to be selling an authentic product when it is not is extremely disrespectful. |
Anonymous from USA |
Yes |
No |
It is horrible |
Laura from USA |
Yes |
No |
They are deceptive practices and I am trying to avoid them |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
The deception that goes on in the world is sad. To use another cultures creation for profit by deception is wrong goes without saying. The true origin of where they are made should be disclosed. |
Anonymous from Australia |
No |
No |
Very unhappy about this revelation |
Lucas Rodriguez from Spain |
Yes |
No |
That people lies lies for money... |
Luke from United Kingdom |
No |
No |
Mmm... this is a common problem throughout the world. When something of good quality or high value is created it is then copied and sold falsely as such to fetch a higher price. I guess if there was a way for the buyer to verify that it is authentic this may help keep the customer informed. Otherwise its down to the buyers own initiative to find this out. (if they want to or not is another question) |
Marcus from Australia |
Yes |
No |
I think that there needs to some sort of federal law to protect Aboriginal art and artifacts from exploitation. Something similar to the heart tick indication that the the item is made by and for the benefit of Aboriginal people |
Margaret Thompson from USA |
No |
No |
To sell a Didgeridoo made by non Aboriginal person the seller should be required to include that information and if cultural images are used the person or company who reproduced the images should have the permission of the Aboriginal people and should have to pay them. |
Mark from Australia |
Yes |
No |
As above again. Customers want to purchase genuine products and so that money goes back in to the community. |
Mark from Australia |
Yes |
No |
That's very sad. |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
It would be a big problem to put right. |
Martyn from USA |
No |
No |
As I stated above I think misrepresenting the authenticity of a didgeridoo is wrong. |
Matthew from USA |
No |
No |
Again it is a sad case of exploitation. It is much the case here in the United States with the Native Americans. White men use their culture and ideas to make money without giving back. |
Michael from USA |
Yes |
No |
It is wrong I feel to intentionally deceive customers yet the spreading of different cultures is wonderful in many forms and the goods will never be as good as true |
Mikolaj from USA |
No |
No |
Feel bad |
Monica from USA |
Yes |
No |
I don't feel that is appropriate. If it isn't truly Aboriginal then it shouldn't be marketed as such. |
Omri from Israel |
No |
No |
They abuse the aboriginal people. |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
I feel bad |
Orpheas from Greece |
No |
No |
As I previously stated I feel disgusted by those issues. |
Paolo from Italy |
No |
No |
Wrong. |
Anonymous from Canada |
No |
No |
Not a fair practice origin should be clear |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
Unless I am in Australia I do not expect any shop to sell didges made by aboriginal people and if they say they are I would be very skeptical. Over the past 10 years that I have had contact with didges ones made by the aboriginal people were a very rare find - high prized rare find |
Patti Baker from USA |
Yes |
No |
It saddens me to know that many people are more interested in making money vs honesty/integrity. It would be nice if there were some legislature ordering full disclosure of the manufacturing location of any item depicting visuals/sounds directly relating to Aboriginal culture. That way it may not stop businesses from making items depicting Aboriginal culture but it would make customers more aware of what they were buying. It would also be nice if a portion of profits went to assisting Aboriginal people in the community. |
Paul from United Kingdom |
Yes |
No |
I can't believe it. we should respect a culture that has existed since time immemorial and apply respect by ensuring controls are in place to stop these deceptions! |
Anonymous from Portugal |
Yes |
No |
Yes that is a serious problem. but difficult of if deciding it would have to exist a pressed control (impossible) or a bigger spreading so that the people could recognize a true one and a false one. |
Pedro Duarte from Poland |
No |
No |
Both of the issues are clearly deceiving and an usurpation of the name and culture of the aborigine. It should not be allowed. |
Pedro from Portugal |
No |
No |
In my opinion I think that anyone should paint their own didgeridoos but deceiving costumers into believe that a didgeridoo is genuine is a stupid thing to do. because one person that doesn't know he thinks that he's buying a real product. |
Anonymous |
Yes |
No |
Not good feeling. |
Anonymous from Australia |
No |
No |
I feel this is a deception. It makes me feel as though this false imagery is used exploiting both the aboriginal culture and the purchaser. I think the same rules for false advertising should occur in this instance. |
Ramon from Spain |
Yes |
No |
I knew about this when I travelled to Australia and there to Northern Territory. I think there must be more control about this! But the problem is people who buy without notice that problem and without information. |
Ramon Deus from United Kingdom |
No |
No |
I know that the images and decoration are Aboriginal. I didn't realise they where tools to con people into buying them. Is this the tip of the Iceberg. Are the Aborigines 'sold out' on other elements of their culture? |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
That pretty much sucks. Nothing quite as bad as having your cultural heritage corrupted. |
Richard from USA |
Yes |
No |
People should learn about the culture and the didgeridoo and do some valuable homework before buying a didgeridoo.Just so you know what your buying and also the maker is getting his or her fair share. |
Rino Serafino from Germany |
Yes |
No |
The Business-World does mostly not respect human beings creators and artists. I know this as artist myself. Well things have to change and they will when we'll be ready to change our attitudes - and our ways of acting. |
Robin Oberg from Sweden |
Yes |
No |
I don't understand why they do it they must have something of their own that they can exploit instead. The whole thing is awful. The only positive I can think of is that the 'brand' is getting wider spread making aboriginal culture getting a fair step on the market. But I guess even that is negative in a way selling out is not something all aboriginals are ok with... |
Roderick Van Der Veen from Netherlands |
Yes |
No |
Lying in business and marketing has always been there. I think it's unfair but accept it. |
Rodney from USA |
No |
No |
Well it doesn't surprise me you can't buy anything these days with out having some worry that it was produced in china |
Romain from France |
Yes |
No |
People are foolish believing so |
Ronald Brady from USA |
No |
No |
This kind of deception clearly needs to be corrected. I'm surprised that our all-knowing "father-figure" law makers haven't caught up with this yet. |
Ryan from USA |
Yes |
No |
Bad karma....They will get their just due's in the end. All things come back to you...bad bad people. Shame on them. |
Sara from Portugal |
Yes |
No |
I don't think nothing.. |
Savananh from United Kingdom |
No |
No |
Terrible. The Aboriginals are human you know! |
Scott from USA |
Yes |
No |
UNFAIR |
Shawn from USA |
No |
No |
Sad Like the American Indians. It's just not fair. It's like stealing the Aboriginal people's history |
Anonymous from USA |
No |
No |
Not sure |
Sherree from USA |
No |
No |
I feel that it is wrong and untruthful. |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
Por la calidad de su arte y sonido los digeridos originalmente australianos y Aborígenes son fácilmente identificables únicos e reproducibles. Aun así es vergonzoso que quienes los produzcan no declaren su origen o mientan sobre ello. Si disfrutamos de escuchar y/o ejecutar los hermosos sonidos de un Digerido siempre debiéramos de sentirnos profundamente respetuosos y agradecidos por saber que en nuestras manos y a través del aire que inspiramos se expresa la voz de un legendario instrumento propio de Pueblos y Culturas Originarias de Australia. |
Simon from United Kingdom |
Yes |
No |
This is an issue because these people are cultural vandals with little knowledge or respect for this amazing tradition surely this sort of thing needs to be addressed at a government level |
Sophie from Australia |
No |
No |
This is such an important part of our county's heritage but it should not be taken from the people who it truly belongs to. |
Stacey from USA |
Yes |
No |
I feel that while "imitation is the most sincere form of flattery" this is counterfeiting and therefore wrong. I have been searching for a "authentic" didge for a while now and I worry about getting fooled constantly. |
Steve Bailey from United Kingdom |
Yes |
No |
It would be difficult to ban non-Aboriginal Didges but failing this no Aboriginal cultural images should be used and that should be clearly identified as non-aboriginal |
Steve from United Kingdom |
No |
No |
Sad |
Stuart Bond from United Kingdom |
No |
No |
Our culture is our expression of not only who we are but also of our values ethics norms social customs and behaviours our spiritual beliefs and our world-view. The global commodification and homogenisation of culture is robbing us of a crucial part of the web of life. Once a culture is gone it is lost forever. While it is true that a culture is not a static set of values and norms but is a dynamic flow it can sometimes be hard to identify when that has been handled and interpreted with sympathy and reverence or when it has been exploited for economic or personal gain. In this situation we have to options in which we can attempt to make a difference. The first I believe is by far the most preferable - and that is to find a retailer with integrity and one that promotes trust. In this instance trust is an active ethical lubricator between the producer and consumer - enabling both to buy and sell with confidence that everything humanly possible has been done to ensure all parties profit (in the widest application of the word). The second is to develop a suitable label or marketing profile which again people need to trust but this needs time money and resources to implement and police. Money from such a scheme could be used to re-invest in social cultural and environmental projects and also to enable a wider understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal art craft and culture. |
Anonymous from United Kingdom |
No |
No |
Lack of respect for the aboriginal people. needs to be redressed. |
Sue from Australia |
Yes |
No |
I think it is disrespectful of our people. Is it possible to have a law put into place? |
Anonymous from Spain |
No |
No |
Es importante que no desaparzcan las tradiciones y la cultura |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
This shouldn't be allowed to happen |
Tarah Mccombes from Australia |
No |
No |
This is definitely wrong. |
Anonymous |
No |
No |
Not surprised money grubbers! |
Tim Gillott from United Kingdom |
Yes |
No |
See above. The cultural and religious symbols of the Indigenous Australian people should NEVER be used as sales tools to shift didges. All didgeridoos should be classified clearly as to their origins and some responsible sellers are instituting such classification systems. These systems need to be adopted more widely across Australia. |
Tim from USA |
Yes |
No |
I think this should be regulated by the government |
Tom from USA |
No |
No |
Basic dishonesty! I'm appalled that the government hasn't demonstrated more ethics by passing laws prohibiting this. |
Tom from Israel |
No |
No |
This is different. I feel it's a shame the aboriginal people don't get this message across to people. I think people who buy didges are usually more sensitive to these things. |
Anonymous from Australia |
No |
No |
I am disgusted and my eyes have been well and truly opened. |
Anonymous from Italy |
Yes |
No |
Wrong in a sell everything should be clear. |
Anonymous |
Yes |
No |
Wrong wrong wrong something should be done to stop imposters |
William from USA |
Yes |
No |
I have an instrument made by Abasi Ote an African-American craftsman. He is also a performer and educator. I respect his work and his attitude towards culture. I also respect any person who tries to make an instrument for their own. I would rather blow an old automobile exhaust pipe than buy a "fake" instrument with kangaroos painted on it. |
Zoe from Australia |
Yes |
No |
I wasn't certain but I had an idea that might be the case. I don't believe it should be legal. The origin and manufacturer of the didj should be clearly displayed by the stores and sales people. |
