Walala was born in the early 1960’s in the Gibson Desert and as one of nine lived a nomadic life (including his brothers Warlimpirrnga and Thomas). They made history in October 1984 when they had first contact with ‘the outside world and Europeans’ for the first time.

Walala paints the Tingari Cycle, which is a series of sacred and secret songlines. These Tingari are associated with his Dreaming sites at Marua, Mintarnpi, Wanapatangu, Minna Minna, Naami, Wilkinkarra (Lake Mackay) and Yarrawangu, which are all in the Gibson Desert, Western Australia.

These were some of the places where the Tingari Ancestors stopped for ceremonies during their travels across the country.