Mamanta Crew - 'Paakatringa Waya'

Created in November/ December 2016, ‘Paakatringa Waya’ is an one of several media outcomes of a Desert Pea Media workshop program with the small community of Millikapiti, on Melville Island (part of the Tiwi Island Group) located approx 200km North of Darwin in the Northern Territory.
This production was created over approximately 1 week (as part of a 5 week project), alongside a range of short films, vignettes, documentaries and stories called 'Tiwi TV'. These stories describe the life and conversations of the people of Milikapiti.
The track titled ‘Paakatringa Waya’ (Tiwi for 'the storm is no more') was produced by long-time DPM producer Josh Nicholas (aka 'Hazy') and co-written by Toby Finlayson, local elders, community members, and a group of young men aptly named 'Mamanta Crew' which means 'friend' in Tiwi.
'Paakatringa Waya' is a tuff, heavy, rap/reggae ballad that frames a conversation about serious social issues such as alcohol abuse, substance abuse, poverty and violence. It speaks of the importance of positive leadership and cultural revival as a key component to building a healthy, positive future for the Tiwi People.
The track is written partially in English and partially in modern-day Tiwi, but our proudest achievement is that the chorus is written in 'old' Tiwi, as an effort to support an ancient language of this incredible community.
We would like to thank our new family in Milikapiti for making our stay one of the most memorable and wonderful experiences of our lives. The friendships and connections we made here will last long into the future. Stay strong our mantangi, mantawa, mamanta. Kuwa kuwa kuwa oompangi.
Special thanks to Jackie and Seamus and the mob at Jilamara Arts and Crafts, Uncle Nelson Mungatopi, Pedro Wonaemirri, Dylan Black and ALL THE TIWI PEOPLE.
The project came about through a partnership between Desert Pea Media, The NT Department of Business, Catholic Care NT, Jilamara Arts & Crafts and Milikapiti School.
Stay tuned for much, much more.
CREDITS
Young people from Milikapiti - Co-Directors/ Co-Writers
Elders from Milikapiti (too many) - Co-Writers
Toby Finlayson - Producer/ Director/ Writer/ DOP/ Editor
Josh Nicholas - Music Producer/ Music Director/ Location Sound/ Co-Writer.
Nicky Akehurst - Co-Director/ Co-Writer/ Camera Two
Roy Weiland - Colour Grading/Motion Graphics/ Camera Three
David Nicholas - Audio Mixing & Mastering
Mario **** - Drone footage
LYRICS
VERSE 1
Comin outta Milikapiti, wunataka oolamani ngeramani (OOH)
Murakapunni (OOH) inni ngawulah (EH YA) majapanni
Tiwi from Timbrambu to kaslake with a harpoon (OOH)
Muttankalah (OOH) taparra (OOH) Mamanta Crew
Wunnataka djiddi merrapaka (Thunder) brunjuwi degwappi
No good take-away gunna be a fight, lotta batey on a
Saturday night.
I’m sick of this stress, look at this place, look at my people .
YES
Distressed, depressed (OOH) who gunna clean this mess.
Mamanta Crew - bring culture back to you
Kurrakonga wakka way, wakka way - old to new.
Kokadewi gotta learn your song (YEP) right way keep it
strong (YEP) learn it pass it on, all of my people sing along
I’m sick of this humbug, I’m trying to lead the way
But got this grog and ganja killin my people, stressin out
every day. Gotta switch it up, reach for the sun, move your
feet, lead from the front. Learn your song budda beat that
drum I swear that change gunna come.
VERSE 2
Cruisin down the street with my turtle meat
We gunna go kick a football with my with my bare feet
Gunna go get a big barra from Timrambu Creek
Got me and my mantawi just pumpin the beat.
Tamagagawi Ngyimbita - ngawa go hunting
Beats are thumping, wallaby jumping
Saturday night they fight (yep)
Hide in the bush with the torchlight
When we go camping, paint my skin we dance
We go country away from the cans
Old time stories, keep it strong
For my kids and my grandkids, pass it on.
Talk to my umow, my aminay when I feel
Stress - (yes) - do your best
To drink less - give it a rest
Forget that Oopoonga, clean this mess!
CHORUS
My people of the wunataka, warangui stand up
Garlu, bilingiti my mantawi put your hands up
Papalua angarra oomanta mangi ngawa
wunataka amma garlu pakatringa wiya
pakatringa wiya
pakatringa wiya