Didgeridoos

The didgeridoo (also known as didjeridu or yidaki) one of mankind's oldest musical instruments, is shaped from a hollowed out tree branch or log. Didgeridoos mostly vary in length from between 1.2 meters to 1.8 meters depending on the piece of timber found. Historically a branch hollowed out by termites was collected and cleaned out inside. However these days burning drilling and gouging with tools is also used to cater for the constant demand.

Most Didgeridoos are elaborately painted by aboriginal artists and historically with much to do with the aboriginal culture. After carving and painting, the mouthpiece is covered with bees wax or resin for smoothness and resizing of the mouthpiece when it is finished.


Different lengths and widths produce different keys and sounds, so no two didgeridoos sound exactly the same. They are played with a technique called circular breathing, where air held in the cheeks is blown through the mouthpiece with vibrating lips. The cheek reservoir of air is replaced by constant rapid nasal sniffs, so as not to interrupt the continuous sounds. Accomplished didgeridoo players can create some amazing sounds from these original wind instruments.

The didgeridoo is believed to have originated in Northern Australia.

Australian Aboriginal artists

In recent years Didgeridoos have become popular throughout the world, as both musical instruments, works of art by aboriginal artists and as home decor, particularly those didgeridoo that are colourfully decorated by more prominent Australian Aboriginal artists.

The new wave of Australian Aboriginal artists are now also painting their impressions on Australian native animal carvings in vivid colours, which many people like to use for creative home decor with the unmistakable style of traditional Australian Aboriginal artworks.

Akcent Giftware are wholesalers of Didgeridoos, Boomerangs and hand carved Australian native animals carved in plain timber for Aboriginal artists to paint their art.

We make no apology for the fact that these hand carved items are imported from native craftsmen in Indonesia, as the labour costs in Australia now makes these items too expensive to procure locally, (and the native Indonesian craftsmen that produce them, currently need all the support they can get because of the tsunami). Additionally many Australian Aboriginal artists do not have the time to carve, preferring to concentrate on painting.

Furthermore (as with other oil and water colour paintings and drawings where the canvas and paper are not produced locally) the bottom line is that the end buyers of aboriginal art are only concerned that the items are authentic paintings by Australian Aboriginal artists.

So Aboriginal Artists, please review our on-line shopping cart of plain didgeredoos, boomerangs & hand carved native Australian animal figurines.