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Mayatja Altimani Mununi Minala

Original Pitjantjatjara hymn by Tony Campbell

Photograph: Amy Jean Harding

Listen to the pronounciation and an explanation of the meaning of the words of Mayatja Altimani Mununi Minala provided by Caroline Windy, recorded at Big Sing in the Desert 2016, Ross River Homestead, Northern Territory.

This hymn was written by Tony Campbell and was first sung by the Mimili Gospel Singers in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands in the north of South Australia. The words are in Pitjantjatjara. We love singing Mayatja together, and it has become a regular in the Big Sing in the Desert songbook.

This lovely song is taught at Big Sing in the Desert by members of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir. It is a great song for beginners to learn Pitjantjatjara language. This song has travelled to Germany and Washington DC with the choir, and they like to sing it sitting down, so they can use their knees to clap on.

Mayatja Altimani Mununi Minala

Words and music by Tony Campbell
Mimili Gospel Singers, God’s Love, CD Track 10
Language: Pitjantjatjara
Reproduced with permission

Mayatja altimani mununi minala
Ngayulu patina nyuntumpa mayatjaku
Jesunya mara katinyi anangu winkiku

Nyuntu ngali kulila nguranara ilkaritja
Jesunya patina nyuntumpa ngalimpa
Jesunya mara katinyi anangu winkiku

Tjintunyanga ilarangu nyuntumpa ngalimpa
Nyuntu ngali kulila nguranara ilkiratja
Jesunya mara katinyi anangu winkiku

Nyuntu ngali malaringku watarku nyinara
Ngakula patina nganalu katintjaku
Jesunya mara katinyi anangu winkiku
Jesunya mara katinyi anangu winkiku