Location: Lower Fitzroy River from Yeeda upstream to Noonkanbah, on both banks; an eastern section of the tribe, called Wanji or Tjaba, extends from Mount Wynne and Nuranura Ridge on the northern side of the river to Fitzroy Crossing; north to Oscar Range, Kimberley Downs, and Meda; southwest to scarp of Edgar Ranges and Dampier Downs; on lower waters of Jurgurra (Wilson) Creek. The eastern hordes relied on ['Ilimbiri], a spring near Mount Percy for water in drought times, but in pre-European times were confronted here by hostile strangers, the Punaba, whom they fought; they had not met in friendly fashion. Some of the Tjaba hordes of the tribe today could understand Punaba and there has been some intermarriage. The, Njikena of the desert fringe visited ['Mandikara'kapo] (Dampier Downs) and the upper Tjirkali (Geegully) Creek for water, principally in times of drought, and there they had hostile contact with the Mangala.
Co-ordinates: 124°20'E x 18°10'S
Area: 11,300 sq. m. (29,400 sq. km.)
References: Mathews, 1900 (Gr. 6524, 6575); Bates, 1914; Mjöberg, 1922-1923; Kaberry, 1937, 1939; Petri, 1939, 1952, 1956, 1960; Capell, 1939, 1940, 1952, 1955, 1960, 1965; Tindale, 1940, 1953 MS, 1956; Worms, 1950, 1952; Playford, 1960; Coate, 1966.
Alternative Names: Njigena (valid variant), Nigena, Njigina, Nyigina, Nyi-gini, Njikini (Mangala term), Njigana, Wanji (name for eastern hordes), Tjaba (language name for eastern hordes), Dja:ba, Wanji (Punaba name for eastern Njikena), Yeeda (place name).