Djinba people

The Djinba are an Aboriginal Australian group of the Yolngu people of the Northern Territory.

Name

Their endonym Djinba comes from their word for the demonstrative pronoun "this".^[1] The two moieties are Ganalbingu (Ganhalpuyngu) and Mandjalpingu (Manydjalpuyngu).^[2]

Language

Djinba is one of the Yolŋu languages, and its closest relationship is to Djinang with which it is about 60% cognate.^[3]

Country

The Djinba were inlanders whose territory has been estimated to extend over some 1,200 square miles (3,100 km²), running south from the Arafura Swamp's northern margin to the upper Goyder River.^[1] The Djinang lie to their north-west, the Rembarrnga directly west, while to their south were the Ngandi and Diakui people (Ritharrngu) tribes.

Social organisation

Norman Tindale claimed that the Djinba were the most northerly tribe in eastern Arnhem Land to retain the standard Australian tribal structure, meaning they were divided into Dua and Jiritja clans.^[1]

Alternative names

• Jinba
• Outjanbah^[1]

Notable people

• David Gulpilil