Baiame

Introduction

Baiame is the ancient sky god of the Kamilaroi peoples of New South Wales. He is known for inventing the stone fish trap and for answering prayers for rain. He is also considered to be the creator god for several Aboriginal tribes of south eastern Australia like the Wonnarua, Kamilaroi, Eora, Darkinjung, and Wiradjuri.

Physical Traits

Baiame is often depicted as wearing a large head-dress with various internal decorations. The images available are from numerous cave paintings and stone carvings available, so more detailed descriptions are unavailable. These include vertical lines running down his body and bands and dots. It is believed that he is an older person who is wise and takes an interest in helping the humans who worship him.

Family

He is believed to have two wives, Birrangulu and Ganhanbili. Birrangulu is commonly identified and represented as an emu which is one of the birds that is native to the region. He is also believed to have fathered Dharramalan with Birrangulu according to some tribes while others believe Dharramalan to be his brother.

Other Names

Baiame is usually not known by any other names but there have been many variations to the way the name is spelt depending on the person who is writing about the god. The most common representations are Biame, Baayami, Baayama or Byamee.

He is also referred as Sky Hero or All Father or Sky Father among most of the tribes from the Australian mainland.

Powers and Abilities

Coming down from the sky, Baiame created forests, rivers, and mountains. He then gave people their laws of life, their songs, culture and the traditions that are followed even today. He created the first initiation site known as a bora which is a place where boys were initiated into manhood. He returned to the sky once he was finished giving him the name Sky Father.

It was forbidden to mention or talk about the name of Baiame publicly. Women were not allowed to see drawings of Baiame nor approach Baiame sites—which are often male initiation sites.

Modern Day Influence

Baiame sites like the Baiame Caves are popular tourist spots in Australia due to the many cave paintings that still exist. The native tribes still hold Baiame in very high regard and fiercely protect other sacred sites that are associated with the creator god. Many tribes also ensure that the male initiation ceremonies are still conducted according to the traditions of the tribe and dedicate it to Baiame.