Completed over 5 years, this project had the bold ambition to connect the ideas and culture of Walpiri Elders from remote NT with urban city living Australians.

At the heart of Crown and Country is the voice of the prolific Warlpiri philosopher, teacher and artist, Wanta Jampijinpa Pawu-Kurlpurlurnu, from the remote central desert community of Lajamanu, NT.

Wanta joins his father Jerry Jangala Patrick OAM, one of the most important Warlpiri songmen alive today, whose traditional singing at ~90 years grounds the work in Warlpiri ceremonial song.

Alongside contemporary compositions by Marc ‘Monkey’ Peckham, Crown and Country translates their deep intergenerational cultural knowledge into immersive music and film, where Wanta Jampijinpa invites you into a desert journey through the Warlpiri universe to gain a deeper understanding of belonging, connection, and responsibility to Country. At its heart, Crown and Country is an invitation for all Australians to embrace indigenous culture as a part of our shared identity.

Crown and Country toured Australia in 2025 starting at Darwin Festival, then moving to Mparntwe Alice Springs International Film Festival, and finally in Melbourne as a part of Now Or Never, where it screened to a sold out capitol theatre.

The film succeeded in both resonating with and inspiring the local community as well as engaging urban Australians. The film acts as a bridge between the Warlpiri people and broader urban Australia.

Audiences described it as:

“Straight to the heart of knowledge and culture”

“It hit me like a freight train”

“Something to touch the hearts”

“It’s The Truth about Australia”

“It made us feel so proud”

“Feels like exactly the medicine we need for this age”

“It highlighted the absolute importance of Art in communicating things that are really hard to communicate”

Click below for a radio interview with Wanta, Jerry and Monkey.