Clapsticks for Sale

During the months of June & July 2006 iDIDJ Australia will be giving away complimentary double passes with every purchase in the iDIDJ Store to the landmark feature film, Ten Canoes... more »

Clapsticks are paired wooden implements used by Aboriginal people in the 'Top End' of Australia as rhythmic percussive instruments. They accompany vocals and didgeridoo in ceremonial rituals, and function as time-measuring devices... they set the rhythm and beat for song and dance. Clapsticks, also known as bilma or bilma in north-east Arnhem Land, are important cultural objects embedded in the sacred mythological landscape of Arnhem Land and surrounds. There are versions of clapsticks that are of high totemic order, imbued with ancestral power and handed down by peak Creation Beings.

The clapsticks on offer here are made from the heartwood of Ironwood or what is known as maypiny (Erythrophleum chlorostachys) in north-east Arnhem Land. These produce the best quality sound with a metallic ringing tone. The heartwood of Ironwood is extremely hard, dense, heavy and durable. It is the material of choice of manikaymirr (ceremonial songmen) in Arnhem Land.

We are pleased to offer authentic Yolngu-made clapsticks from Arnhem Land in the iDIDJ Store. These have been collected in communities and outstations in Arnhem Land over a 12-year period. We also offer older examples from the 1960s-70s as well as more-recently made specimens. All the clapsticks we offer are not tourist-oriented souvenirs made in factories, but the real deal as used by Aboriginal songmen themselves.

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We accept Visa and Mastercard to simplify your transaction.

Created 13th July 2006
Updated 15th July 2006 - All bilma sold within 2 days. Please check back regularly as we will offer other clapsticks soon
Updated 16th July 2006 - 3 pairs of clapsticks listed today
Updated 20th July 2006 - 3 pairs of newly-listed clapsticks sold