Wakih (Fresh Water Prawns) by Reuben Manakgu

Wakih (Leptopalaemon gagadjui) is a freshwater prawn found only in West Arnhem Land, hence the species name ‘gagadjui’ derived from Gagudju, the Indigenous name for the language and people of Kakadu. Bininj (West Arnhem Aboriginal people) still catch it today, in deep billabongs and waterways.

A lot of wakih can be caught in the creeks of Reuben’s country - Mangardubu - north of Gunbalanya. He catches them with a throw net or a piece of meat on the end of a fishing line and entices them into the shallows where they can be speared. The silhouette style used in this design is ancient in origin and common in the rock art of West Arnhem Land.