There are several older recordings of Murrinh-patha
speakers singing balga songs, a style of songs
from the Kimberleys. These songs were traded to Wadeye from
the eastern Kimberley region in exchange for spears and
other ceremonial goods including wangka and
lirrga songs. The main repertory known to Wadeye
people is purraithang balga. This repertory is
said to have been traded from Kununurra via Legune Station
to Port Keats (Wadeye), Nadirri, Daly River, Batchelor,
Belyuen and Bagot (Darwin).
Balga songs were recorded from a group of people
from Port Keats at Delissaville (now Belyuen) in 1948 by
Colin Simpson; from several different groups at Daly River
by W.E.H. Stanner in 1957; by Alice Moyle in 1962 at the
Darwin Eisteddfod (in combination with thanpa
songs); and again by Alice Moyle in combination with
thanpa songs at Kununurra in 1968. The last
recording of balga at Wadeye was made by Michael
Walsh in 1974 (Walsh A4375AB).
Since then balga has apparently ceased to be
performed at Wadeye.