Anangu means Aboriginal person or Aboriginal people in the Western Desert Aboriginal language which is spoken in large areas in Central and Western Australia. Anangu is pronounced: ah-nung-oo. (The syllable in bold types is stressed - "nung" rhymes with the English word "sung").

The Aboriginal people has lived in Australia and on the surrounding islands for more than 40,000 years. Or perhaps you should say these peoples - as the Australian Aboriginal people, their culture (and language of course) can vary a lot throughout the enormous continent.

In 1788 when the British arrived the Aboriginal population is estimated to have been about 300,000. The number was diminished to about one sixth by wars and deseases mostly inflicted by the whites. But since the beginning of the 20th century the number has been growing again and it is today of about 200,000.

Dreamtime refers to the way the Aboriginal people believe the world began - often told in legends - stories that explain the origin - or the beginning - of the world and what is in it.

And to avoid doubt as to the two words Aboriginal and Aborigine, which obviously are difficult to use correctly - even to Australians. The word Aboriginal is an adjective telling something about a noun (Aboriginal art, Aboriginal language, etc.). The world Aborigine is a noun and tells the nationality (just like Dane, Englishman, etc.).

Comments to: Niels Quist