Pupuni Jilamara - Simplicia Tipungwuti

'Pupuni JilamaraÓ
During ceremony on the Tiwi Lislands a series of 'yoi' (dances), are performed. Deeply associated to country and story-places most of these 'yoiÓ are totemic (inherited from the person's Mother) while some serve to act out the narrative of newly composed songs. Participants in these ceremonies are painted with turtiyanginari (the different natural traditional ochre colours) in varying designs, transforming the dancers and, in some cases, providing protection against recognition by mapurtiti (spirits) who wander around on country. These designs can be applied in different ways, one of which is using the finger, or in this case a brush, or the traditional Tiwi Comb. These significant artistic designs collectively are called "Jilamara'.