Jill Turner steps back in time with Ninalik Ndawi
Sacred songs of nature, steeped in highland traditions and referred to affectionately as their Stone Age songs. Evocative of a time before European colonialism and the current Indonesian occupation when little had changed for the people of West Papua.
Much has changed however. Benny, orphaned in an Indonesian bombing raid,became an influential leader of his people. Resisting the occupation, he survived two assassination attempts and escaped imprisonment on treason charges, for carrying the Bintang Kajora. The flag, a symbol of hope for a free West Papua is used here, as the graphic backdrop, for their album cover.
.."it is a testament to human resiliance that their music retains such an air of reassurance.."
Freedom fighters helped reunite Benny and Maria in 2003, in the refugee camps of Papua New Guinea where Maria, also facing death threats, had fled with their new born baby. Elenginro, written during Benny’s imprisonment, is characteristic of the passionate raw roots music that ignites the spirits of resistance, hope and determination. Maria’s gentle strumming of the guitar creates a rhythm over which she delivers her vocals, sometimes gently, sometimes with a sense of urgency as in Wologwe, singing her heart out whilst Benny adds vocal harmonies and picks out a melody on the ukele.
In a climate of fear, uncertainty and repression, it is a testament to human resiliance that their music retains such an air of reassurance with catchy melodies that beg us to sing along. This album with additional documentary sleeve notes should not be under estimated for its cultural legacy and its part in encouraging the struggle for freedom in West Papua.
Benny and Maria have been granted political asylum in England and are part of the West Papuan government in exile and run the Free West Papua campaign.
Ninalik Ndawi
