Raphaelina Babui Tiwi, Australian, b. 1999

Raph is a Tiwi woman who grew up in Paru on Melville Island and lives in Wurrumiyanga on Bathurst Island on the Tiwi Islands. 

She started at Ngaruwanajirri in early 2025 learning the Tiwi way of carving from the established carvers here, as well as learning how to be an arts worker. 

Raph learnt about Tiwi art (jilamara) and carving at school and wants to keep Tiwi culture strong. As a young child she would go to the old Women’s Centre in Wurrumiyanga with her grandmother and watch the ladies weaving. She plays in the Tiwi Islands Football League for Tapalinga Superstars.