Hollow Log Didgeridoos promotes didgeridoos made by Aboriginal makers in the Top End of the Northern Territory of Australia. ‘Hollow Log’ refers to the eucalyptus logs that hollowed by termites and used as traditional material for didgeridoos for hundreds of years by different Indigenous groups in the Northern parts of Australia.

During the past three decades the worldwide interest for the didgeridoo created a huge industry to supply the growing market with didgeridoos designed for the contemporary demand. Unfortunately, today didgeridoos made by the traditional custodians of the instrument make up only a few precent of the didgeridoos sold globally. To support grass-roots economy and guarantee transparency, we work with community-based art centres and businesses across Arnhem Land. Hollow Log Didgeridoos supplies quality, original and authentic instruments with cultural integrity while maintaining living connection with the traditional custodians of the didgeridoo. Beside selling instruments, education is an important part of our business so our customers become more informed and culturally competent while engaging with one of the most known icons of the Australian Indigenous traditions.

Hollow Log Didgeridoos is selling didgeridoos online. The instruments are located in New South Wales, Australia.

To read our Terms and Conditions of Sale, click here.

“Ŋarranydja ŋäpaki gapu-wuḏappuy yäku Janos ga ŋarra mälktja Buḻany. Ga goŋdhu maraŋalanydja ŋarranha Yolŋuyu. Ga gurruparanydja ŋarranha walala mälk. Ga bulu marŋgithina walalaŋala ŋarra dhärukku romgu ga gurruṯuwu ga yiḏaki-waŋanharawu. Ga nhaltjan ŋarra yurru nhina latjukuma ŋurrikimirriyi. Dhuwala baḏak ŋarra ga marrtji ga marŋgithirri Yolŋuwu Romgu ga gakalwu. Ga dhiyaŋu bala ŋarra ga ŋaŋ’thun wiripuwurrunha ŋäpakinha mala walala yurru marŋgithirri ga malthun manymakkuma dhukarrwu ga romgu. Dhuwalanydja website-tja ga dhäruk mala guŋga’yunharamirri buku-yiḏakiwu ŋäpakiwu malaŋuwu märr walala yurru marŋgithirri yiḏakiwu romgu ga goŋ-nhirranminyarawu manymakkunharawu bukmakku Yolŋuwu. Ma’ manymak.”

Buḻany

Janos was born in Hungary, he first met the didgeridoo there in the mid-90’s. Although in the early days he approached the didgeridoo in a contemporary way as a player, he always felt that studying the Australian Indigenous cultures is important while learning to play the didgerioo.

For many years Janos was looking for the sound of the didgeridoo that resonates with his connection to this unique instrument. He first visited Australia in 2006  and worked with a didgeridoo maker in Far-North Queensland. The experience of cutting and making instruments in the bush impacted his connection to the land and strengthened his dedication towards the termite-hollowed eucalyptus instruments. After his return to Europe, he worked at Ethnosound Worldmusic Instrument shop in Budapest as cultural promoter and event coordinator. During this period he was actively performing as a didgeridoo player, incorporating the instrument in the Hungarian traditional and contemporary music. He was the co-producer, composer and artist of the Gudanjabro Didgeridoo Duo that released its debut album in 2008.

Over these years Janos’ attention gradually turned towards the traditional playing styles of the Top End of Australia. In 2009 he moved to Australia, where he has studying the different traditional didgeridoos and the distinctive playing styles of the Northern Territory. He is looking for the ‘classical’ sound of the didgeridoo while learning about the traditional Indigenous knowledge and the languages of the region. He believes that this` hollowed wooden tube` has the best, the original and the proper sound on its cultural ground, it belongs there, and it carries a universal message that can speak to anyone.

In 2013 Janos started Hollow Log Didgeridoos to establish an online surface where ‘outsiders’ can learn about the traditional didgeridoo and have access to good quality instruments. He approaches the traditional didgeridoo through the lens of a ‘balanda’, non-Aboriginal contemporary player and aims to help his peers to better understand, value and respect the traditional culture of the instrument, as well as the People who invented it. Maintaining ongoing connection with the traditional custodians, learning their ways of life, worldview and languages are important part of Janos’ personal and professional life.

Janos has been working across Arnhem Land for over the past ten years. He lived in Yirrkala in Northeast Arnhem Land where he was involved in ‘community-life’ that gave him a deeper understanding of the complexities of contemporary life in Arnhem Land. Currently he is based in New South Wales, on Wadi-Wadi land. Apart from learning on-ground and being exposed to Indigenous cultures, Janos studied Yolŋu languages at Charles Darwin University and acquired a diploma at Yolŋu Studies; currently he is studying linguistics and contemporary Indigenous life at the same institution. His career as cross-cultural facilitator and educator has been shaped at ARDS Aboriginal Corporation and Yolŋu Radio where he was involved in a range of community development and language projects, cross-cultural consultation and cross-cultural training. Janos has also been actively involved in the work of Buku-Larrŋay Mulka Centre and Maningrida Arts and Crafts as didgeridoo specialist. These unique experiences gave him a particular perspective to see and use the didgeridoo as a cross-cultural communication tool. While sharing information about the didgeridoo, he aims to use his background, skills and toolbox to promote respectful and culturally appropriate engagement with the instrument and its People.

Janos is available to facilitate workshops and presentations about the instrument – find the contact details here.