Yothu Yindi

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Biography

Yothu Yindi ( Yol?u Matha|Yolngu for "child and mother") are an Australian band with Australian Aborigine|Aboriginal and balanda (non-Aboriginal) members formed in 1986. Aboriginal members come from Yolngu|Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala, Northern Territory|Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory 's Arnhem Land . Founding members included Stuart Kellaway on bass guitar , Cal Williams on lead guitar , Witiyana Marika on manikay (traditional vocal s), bilma (ironwood clapstick s) and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki ( didgeridoo ), Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu on keyboard instrument|keyboards , guitar and percussion , and leader Mandawuy Yunupingu on vocals and guitar.

The band combines aspects of both musical cultures, their sound varies from traditional Aboriginal songs to modern pop music|pop and rock music|rock songs, where they blend the typical instruments associated with pop/rock bands, such as guitars and drum kit|drums , with the traditional yidaki and bilma . They have adapted traditional Yolngu dance performances to accompany their music, more broadly they promote mutual respect and understanding in the coming together of different cultures. Yothu Yindi's most widely known song " Treaty (song)|Treaty " peaked at No.& nbsp;11 on the ARIA Charts|ARIA singles charts in 1991 and the related album Tribal Voice peaked at No.& nbsp;4 on the ARIA albums charts. The second single from Tribal Voice was "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" which peaked at No.& nbsp;13 in 1992. Their debut album was Homeland Movement (album)|Homeland Movement in 1988 on Mushroom Records , other albums are Tribal Voice in 1991, Freedom (Yothu Yindi album)|Freedom in 1993, Birrkuta - Wild Honey in 1996, One Blood (album)|One Blood in 1998 and Garma (album)|Garma in 2000.

The group helped established the Yothu Yind Foundation in 1990 to promote Yolngu cultural development, including from 1999 producing the annual Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures and as from May 2007 running the Dilthan Yolngunha (Healing Place). Chairman of the foundation is Galarrwuy Yunupingu , he is Mandawuy's older brother, a Yolgnu clan leader and sometimes a member of Yothu Yindi on bilma and guitar. Galarrwuy had been named Australian of the Year in 1978 for his work for Aboriginal communities and Mandawuy was Australian of the Year for 1992 for his work with Yothu Yindi.

Early years: 1986& ndash;1990

Swamp Jockeys was formed in 1985 containing balanda (European/non-Aboriginal people) Andrew Belletty on drum kit|drums , Stuart Kellaway on bass guitar and Cal Williams on lead guitar , on their tour of Arnhem Land in Australia's Northern Territory they were supported by a Yolngu band containing Witiyana Marika on manikay (traditional vocal s), bilma (ironwood clapstick s) and dance, Milkayngu Mununggurr on yidaki ( didgeridoo ), Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu|Gurrumul 'The Guru' Yunupingu on keyboard instrument|keyboards , guitar and percussion , and Mandawuy Yunupingu (born Bakamana Yunupingu) on vocals and guitar. They united to form Yothu Yindi (pronounced 'yo-thoo yin-dee'), yothu yindi is a Yolngu Matha|Yolngu matha (Yolngu language) kinship term for "child and mother". The band combines aspects of both musical cultures, their sound varies from traditional Aboriginal songs to modern pop music|pop and rock music|rock songs, where they blend the typical instruments associated with pop/rock bands, such as guitars and drums, with the traditional yidaki and bilma . They have adapted traditional Yolngu dance performances to accompany their music, more broadly they promote mutual respect and understanding in the coming together of different cultures.

Mandawuy Yunupingu was a tertiary student studying to become a teacher, he later became principal at his own Yirrkala, Northern Territory|Yirrkala Community School, touring by Yothu Yindi was restricted to school holidays in the early years of the band. In August 1988 they performed in Townsville , Queensland at the South Pacific Festival of Arts, next month they represented Australia in Seoul, South Korea at the Cultural Olympics. Bart Willoughby (ex- No Fixed Address , Coloured Stone ) joined on drums in late 1988 and Yothu Yindi toured USA and Canada as support act to Midnight Oil . Upon return to Australia they were signed to Midnight Oil's label, Mushroom Records and, with Leszek Karski producing, recorded their debut single "Mainstream" released in March 1989. It was followed by debut album Homeland Movement in May, a second single "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" was released in August, neither singles nor album had any major chart success. Yothu Yindi toured with Neil Young in Australia, the band then head-lined to Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong, in 1990 they toured New Zealand with Tracy Chapman , and then performed in festivals in the UK. In 1990 five clans of the Yolngu formed the Yothu Yindi Foundation to promote Yulngu cultural development. Chairman of the foundation is Galarrwuy Yunupingu , he is Mandawuy's older brother, a Yolngu clan leader and sometimes a member of Yothu Yindi on bilma and guitar. Galarrwuy had been named Australian of the Year in 1978 for his work for Aboriginal communities.

"Treaty" and Tribal Voice : 1991& ndash;1992

In 1988, as part of Australian Bicentenary#1988|Bicentennial celebrations, Australian Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister Bob Hawke visited the Northern Territory for the Barunga festival where he was presented with a statement of Aboriginal political objectives by Galarrwuy Yunupingu and Wenten Rubuntja . Hawke responded to the Barunga Statement with a promise that a treaty would be concluded with Indigenous Australians by 1990. By 1991, Yothu Yindi were Hughie Benjamin on drums, Sophie Garrkali and Julie Gungunbuy as dancers, Kellaway, Marika, Mununggurr, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Makuma Yunupingu on yidaki , vocals, bilma , Mandawuy Yunupingu, Mangatjay Yunupingu as a dancer. Mandawuy, with his older brother Galarrwuy, wanted a song to highlight the lack of progress on the treaty between Aboriginal peoples and the federal government. Mandawuy recalls:

"Treaty" was written by Australian musician Paul Kelly (musician)|Paul Kelly and Yothu Yindi members Mandawuy Yunupingu, Kellaway, Williams, Gurrumul Yunupingu, Mununggurr and Marika. The initial release had little interest, but Melbourne-based dance remixers Filthy Lucre's Robert Goodge (ex- I'm Talking ) and Gavin Campbell adapted the song, their version peaked at No.& nbsp;11 on the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) singles ARIA Charts|charts by September. The song contains lyrics in both English and in Yolngu matha , it was accompanied by a video showing band members performing vocals, music, and dance.

Success for the single was transferred to the related album Tribal Voice which peaked at No.& nbsp;4 on the ARIA albums charts, The album produced by Mark Moffatt for Mushroom Records was released in September 1991. Mandawuy Yunupingu took leave of absence from his duties as principal to tour and promote the single and album. Other singles from the album were a re-released "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" which peaked at No.& nbsp;13 in 1992 and "Tribal Voice" which didn't reach the Top 50. At the 1992 ARIA Music Awards|ARIA Awards Yothu Yindi won awards for 'Best Cover Art' for Tribal Voice by Louise Beach and Mushroom Art; 'Engineer of the Year' for "Maralitja" ( maralitja is Yolngu matha for crocodile man - one of Mandawuy's tribal names), "Dharpa" ( dharpa is tree), "Treaty", "Treaty (Filthy Lucre remix)" and "Tribal Voice" by David Price, Ted Howard, Greg Henderson and Simon Polinski; 'Best Indigenous Release' for Tribal Voice ; 'Song of the Year' for "Treaty"; and 'Single of the Year' for "Treaty". Both "Treaty" in 1992 and "Djäpana (Sunset Dreaming)" in 1993 charted on the Billboard (magazine)|Billboard Hot Dance Club Play singles charts, with "Treaty" peaking at No.& nbsp;6, Tribal Voice peaked at No.& nbsp;3 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums chart in 1992.

In October 1992, then Prime Minister Paul Keating 's government awarded Yothu Yindi with a $30,000 grant. The money was used to travel to New York, where they performed at the United Nations for the launch of International Year for the World's Indigenous People. Mandawuy Yunupingu was named Australian of the Year by the Keating government on 26 January 1993. His older brother, Galarrwuy had been named Australian of the Year in 1978 for his work for Aboriginal communities.

In 2009 'Treaty' was added to the National Film and Sound Archive 's Sounds of Australia Registry.

Later years: 1993& ndash;present

At the 1993 ARIA Awards, Yothu Yindi won 'Best Video', directed by Stephen Johnson, and 'Best Indigenous Release' for "Djäpana" and 'Engineer of the Year' for Greg Henderson's work on "Djäpana" and "Tribal Voice". Yothu Yindi's third album Freedom (Yothu Yindi album)|Freedom was released in November 1993, the line-up included Mandawuy, Gurrumul, Makuna and Mangatjay Yunupingu, Marika, Williams, Kellaway, Benjamin and Munumggurr; and new members Banula Marika on vocals and dance, Bunimburr Marika on yidaki , Natalie Gillespie on vocals, Jodie Cockatoo Creed on vocals and clan leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu on bilma and vocals. After intense touring in 1994, Williams left Yothu Yindi and was replaced by Colin Simpson on guitar, they added Ben Hakalitz (ex- Not Drowning Waving ) on drums and Baruka Tau-Matagu on keyboards. Gurrumul Yunupingu had left by 1995 to live full time on Elcho Island , he later formed Salt Water Band to record three albums, and in 2007 released his self-titled solo album. Yothu Yindi's fourth album Birrkuta - Wild Honey|Birrkuta ( birrkuta means wild honey) was released in August 1996.

" I Am Australian " is a popular song written in 1987 by Dobe Newton of The Bushwackers (band)|The Bushwackers and Bruce Woodley of The Seekers . It was released as a single in 1997 by trio Judith Durham of The Seekers, Russell Hitchcock from Air Supply and Yothu Yindi's Mandawuy Yunupingu by EMI Australia and it peaked at No.& nbsp;17 on the ARIA Singles Charts in June.

Yothu Yindi's fifth album One Blood (album)|One Blood was released in 1999 and included "Treaty '98". They sponsored the Yothu Yindi Foundation, which produces the annual Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures celebrating Yolngu culture from 1999, and their sixth album Garma (album)|Garma was released in 2000, with Cal Williams returning on guitars. In 2000, Yothu Yindi performed at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney Olympic Games . On 9 August 2000, 30-year old Betsy Yunupingu was kicked in the head and subsequently died, Yothu Yindi band member Gavin Makuma Yunupingu was found guilty of "committing a dangerous act causing death" and in June 2002 he was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment at Berrimah Jail , Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin . Gavin is the son of Galarrwuy and nephew of Mandawuy.

In May 2001 the Australasian Performing Right Association|Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) , as part of its 75th Anniversary celebrations, named "Treaty" as one of the APRA Top 30 Australian songs|Top 30 Australian songs of all time. In 2003 Yothu Yindi toured through Northern Territory schools with Mandawuy Yunupingu, yidaki players Gapanbulu Yunupingu and Nicky Yunupingu, and Kellaway using songs, storytelling and open discussions to inspire and encourage some of Australia's most vulnerable young people to attend school and stay healthy. The Yothu Yindi Foundation in May 2007 established the Dilthan Yolngunha (Healing Place) using traditional healing practices and mainstream medicines. On 23 July 2008 a 23-year old woman was stabbed numerous times, Nicky Yunupingu, who was described by Northern Territory police as the offender, was later found dead by hanging. Nicky was the nephew of both Galarrwuy and Mandawuy Yunupingu, and, as members of Yothu Yindi, they had just played a concert for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd some hours before the stabbing of the woman, who was admitted to hospital, and Nicky's subsequent death.
In 2009, News.com.au reported that Yothu Yindi lead singer Mandawuy Yunupingu needed a kidney transplant due to chronic alcoholism. Yunupingu said he drank up to four cartons of alcohol a day. "Alcohol was a big influence in my life. I didn't know what harm it did to my body. Before I knew, it was too late," he said.

Members

Arranged alphabetically:

Andrew Bellety & mdash; drum kit|drums

Hughie Benjamin & mdash; drums

Jodie Cockatoo Creed & mdash; vocals

Sophie Garrkali & mdash; dancer

Natalie Gillespie & mdash; vocals

Julie Gungunbuy & mdash; dancer

Ben Hakalitz & mdash; drums

Stuart Kellaway & mdash; bass guitar

Banula Marika & mdash; vocals, dance

Bunimburr Marika & mdash; yidaki ( didgeridoo )

Witiyana Marika & mdash; manikay (traditional vocal s), bilma (ironwood clapstick s), dancer

Milkayngu Mununggurr & mdash; yidaki

Tom Neil & mdash; harmonica / Triangle (musical instrument)|triangle player

Baruka Tau-Matagu & mdash; keyboard instrument|keyboards

Cal Williams & mdash; guitar

Bart Willoughby & mdash; drums

Galarrwuy Yunupingu & mdash; vocals, bilma , guitar

Gapanbulu Yunupingu & mdash; yidaki

Gavin Makuma Yunupingu & mdash; yidaki , bilma , vocals

Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu & mdash; keyboards, guitar, percussion , yidaki , vocals

Mandawuy Yunupingu & mdash; singer-songwriter , guitar

Mangatjay Yunupingu & mdash; dancer

Narripapa Nicky Yunupingu & mdash; yidaki , dancer ( deceased|d. 23 July 2008)

Awards

1991 - Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Songwriting Award for "Treaty".

ARIA Awards

Yothu Yindi has won eight Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) ARIA Music Awards|Music Awards from 14 nominations.

|-
| rowspan="6"| ARIA Music Awards of 1992|1992 || Louise Beach / Mushroom Art & ndash; Tribal Voice || Best Cover Art || |-
| | Tribal Voice || Best Indigenous Release || |-
| rowspan="2"| "Treaty (Filthy Lucre Remix)" || Best Video || |-
| | Single of the Year || |-
| | "Treaty" || Song of the Year || |-
| | David Price, Ted Howard, Greg Henderson, Simon Polinski & ndash; "Maralitja", "Dharpa", "Treaty", "Treaty (Filthy Lucre Remix)", "Tribal Voice" || Engineer of the Year || |-
| rowspan="3"| ARIA Music Awards of 1993|1993 || "Djapana" || Best Indigenous Release || |-
| | Stephen Johnson & ndash; "Djapana" || Best Video || |-
| | Greg Henderson & ndash; "Djapana", "Tribal Voice" || Engineer of the Year || |-
| | ARIA Music Awards of 1994|1994 || Freedom (Yothu Yindi album)|Freedom || Best Indigenous Release || |-
| | ARIA Music Awards of 1995|1995 || "Dots on the Shells" || Best Indigenous Release || |-
| | ARIA Music Awards of 1997|1997 || Birrkuta - Wild Honey || Best Indigenous Release ||

Discography

Albums

Homeland Movement (album)|Homeland Movement (1988)

Tribal Voice (1991)

Freedom (Yothu Yindi album)|Freedom (1993)

Birrkuta - Wild Honey (1996)

One Blood (album)|One Blood (1998)

Garma (album)|Garma (2000)

External links

Listen to an excerpt of 'Treaty' on .

Copyright Citations

This article is licensed under the GNU License
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1. GANGgajang 2. I'm Talking 3. Deborah Conway 4. Jenny Morris 5. Paul Kelly

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