Sovereign spirits set to be celebrated in ‘unprecedented’ Opera House cultural performance

Callan Morse Published September 5, 2023 at 2.00pm (AWST)

music

Ayşe Göknur Shanal and Gurridyula Gaba Wunggu will combine for the Ayşe & Gurridyula - Celebrating Sovereign Spirits performance this month. (Images: Sunny Hungerford/Justin Morgan)

In an unprecedented performance, renowned Yidaki (Didgeridoo) player Gurridyula Gaba Wunggu and Turkish Folk - Opera singer Ayşe Göknur Shanal are set to join forces at the Sydney Opera House this month for the he historical concert, Ayşe & Gurridyula - Celebrating Sovereign Spirits.

Part of the celebrations for Türkiye's 100th year anniversary as a republic, the performance brings a fierce message of asserting the preservation of culture, history and connection to land.

The pair will create a historical cross-cultural experience, with attendees to witness the merging of two cultures in music that surpasses time, space and distance like no other.

Gurridyula Gaba Wunggu is a Waddananggu man from the Wangan and Jagalingou Nation in Central Queensland and Ayşe Göknur Shanal is a Brisbane born singer of Turkish heritage.

Mr Gaba Wunggu is most well known for leading the ceremonial reoccupation of Waddananggu in Central Queensland to defend it from damage caused by the Adani/bravus Carmichael coal mine.

He said his music represents the protection of his homelands.

"Protecting my homelands resonates through music - maintaining connection to Country and Culture through song joins us with animals, water and trees that live around us - the sound of the Yidaki brings this to life," Mr Gaba Wunggu said.

He will partner with Ms Göknur Shanal who is a popular performer at the Opera House.

"Singing folk songs which are passed on by my family, through generations keeps me connected to the land, culture, language and music of my heritage," Ms Göknur Shanal said.

With Gaba Wunggu on the Yidaki (Didgeridoo) the the oldest wind instrument in the world and Ms Göknur Shanal delivering Turkic folk singing, a timeless oral tradition which goes back to Central Asia, the Ayşe & Gurridyula - Celebrating Sovereign Spirits concert is set to be a powerful and historic performance.

Ayşe & Gurridyula - Celebrating Sovereign Spirits will be held on the lands of the Era Nation on Saturday 23 September.

Tickets are available from the Sydney Opera House website.