Wanjibung Edwards

Kokoberrin

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I am Ma Wanjibung. Pa la Nganduw Kedew, Dingo Clan of the Kokoberrin People, Staaten River, Cape York. I acknowledge my thangk, ancestors who lived for warrék, hundreds of thousands of years evolving under the starlight of the patháliy ngamáyvrr with their place, with their walngk, feelings, with their story, pínganvm, with their lore/law, bora, yirral. I acknowledge my thangk buried on country at Pinnarinch, Inkerman Station in Cape York.

Wanjibung is an established visual artist and an active advocate for Indigenous people, especially those of the Central Western Cape York Region. In addition to holding many professional positions, Wanjibung has worked as the Director of Opposition Research of the Give Us a Go Campaign, founded the Kowanyama Baby Festival, and Wild Barra Co.
Wanjibung holds a Master of Philosophy in Public Health (University of Sydney) and is undertaking a Phd in Philosophy at the University of Queensland, examining Kokoberrin Pa Wanggenvng pa chalali approaches to declairing and defending pa la nganthenduw ngatherruw yunggal yinggay, ngerr wur kung. Wanjibung is an important Kokoberrin leader and artist for the Cape York region. His artwork is about his homeland, its creation, and its story. Being an artist is part of his culture. His art is born in the country. It is part of the country. Wanjibung’s works are held in international collections, including the NSW Art Gallery, the ANU Art Collection, the Cairns Regional Art Gallery Collection, and many private institutions. “I create art just like my forefathers did and continue to keep it alive. Our cultural objects are an intricate genealogical lineage that connects to chants, dance, language, land, and philosophy. Kokoberrin art is part of the Cape York cultural management system. It’s our continued responsibility to protect and look after the land as we would look after ourselves.”