Namarali

Worrorra · deity · dreaming creator era · deity

Namarali is the most important individually named Wanjina of the Worrorra people of the north-west Kimberley coast. In Lalai, the Dreaming, he travelled the coastal country, was wounded in a great battle, and finally lay down at Langgi on Worrorra country, where his painted image remains in a rock shelter. Because the paintings are the Wanjina themselves, senior Worrorra custodians, most famously Sam Woolagoodja and his son Donny Woolagoodja, have carried the obligation to keep Namarali's image fresh through ritual repainting; Donny Woolagoodja's giant Namarali figure rose over the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Namarali stands to the Worrorra as Wodjin (Wanalirri) does to the Ngarinyin and Rimijmarra to the Wunambal.

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