RONALD KABAI - WARUP DRUM
RONALD KABAI
WARUP DRUM, 2003
70 x 15 x 15 cmwood, cassowary feathers
PROVENANCE
Saibai Islands, Qld
Private collection, NSW
STORY
Ronald Kabai’s Warup Drum is a powerful ceremonial object that embodies the living culture of the Torres Strait Islands. Hand-carved from dense wood and adorned with cassowary feathers and natural fibres, this drum is both a musical instrument and a vessel of ancestral memory. Traditionally used in dance and ceremony, the warup produces a deep, resonant sound that echoes across land and sea, connecting present-day Islanders to their ancestors and stories.
The cassowary feathers affixed to the drum’s surface are a marker of cultural identity and significance, symbolising strength, spirituality, and the continuation of custom. Through this work, Kabai honours the enduring practices of his community, drawing on traditional techniques while presenting the piece in a contemporary context. As both a sculptural object and a functional instrument, this Warup Drum speaks to the vibrancy and resilience of Torres Strait Islander cultural expression.
